Rae Ann Haight, the USPS Director of National Preparedness, explains to AccuWeather how their plans keep the mail running despite wildfires or hurricanes or any emergency.

Washington

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has a dedicated Office of National Preparedness that oversees emergency planning and response for mail delivery across all U.S. regions, including territories. The agency uses detailed preparedness guides, emergency checklists, and regular training for over 238 emergency management teams to ensure continuity of operations during severe weather events such as wildfires, hurricanes, and blizzards.

USPS monitors weather forecasts from multiple sources and overlays postal facility locations on storm maps to anticipate impacts and preposition resources. In recent disasters, such as Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, mobile post office units were deployed to maintain customer access to mail services while facilities were repaired. These efforts are part of the USPS's longstanding commitment to delivering mail under all conditions.

How U.S. Postal Service delivers mail during weather disasters

When severe weather or natural disasters strike, the U.S. Mail still has to go through. That takes planning, training, and rapid response. Joining us is Ran Heit, Director of National Preparedness for the U.S. Postal Service. What's the mission of the USPS Office of National Preparedness and how does it support mail delivery during a weather emergency? Well, we are a small but mighty group of emergency preparedness professionals and we cover the entire organization. So from Guam, Alaska, Hawaii, all of the U.S., the Caribbean. And what we do is we put in place plans, procedures, protocols. We have all sorts of preparedness guides and tools and resources so that we can rebound and be ready for any type of emergency event. All right. So how does USPS, how do they prepare for severe weather events and what's the difference between things like wildfires and hurricanes or blizzards? Like those three things, how do you differentiate those? Well, with wildfires, of course, that's an immediate action that you need to take. With hurricanes, you do have an opportunity to watch the forecast for a few days to be able to prepare so that we can figure out exactly where this may come to play. And that is where we rely so heavily on the forecast. So part of what we do is monitoring the forecast. We do that daily, sometimes hourly. The local news channels, the National Weather Service, AccuWeather for you all, and then the National Hurricane Center. So we take all of those advisories. We take the maps. We actually overlay our postal facilities on those maps so that we know exactly about where this storm could hit. And when we do that, we can help preposition some of the assets and resources that we would need. But the other efforts that we take to be able to prepare is that we have robust preparedness guides. We have emergency threat checklists. And we actually, this team, trains, creates and trains and facilitates training for over 238 emergency management teams across the country. So we test all of that leadership for severe weather procedures, as well as our continuity of operations plans are tested. And we do all of this to ensure that we are able to meet our mission-critical essential function of delivering mail to the American public. Wow, some really important work there. We've definitely had our fair share of high-impact weather events over the last couple of weeks and months. Can you share a recent example where a preparedness plan kept mail moving during a disaster? Well, as you know, we are in every community. We are delivering to every address. So our continuity business plans are always in play. A recent example would be with North Carolina with Hurricane Helene, which was so devastating. Our postal facilities were also impacted. And what we did to keep those plans moving for our customers is we actually deployed mobile post office units that would sit in the parking lot for customers to be able to arrive and send, receive their mail, all while that facility was being repaired. So we have so many examples of our service that we provide. It's the fabric of what we do. And in fact, the Postal Service is celebrating its 250-year anniversary starting this week. So every letter, every mile, since 1775. Wow. Raeanne Hite, Director of National Preparedness for the U.S. Postal Service. Thank you so much for joining us and for the important work you do. Thank you for having me.

France intends to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the UN General Assembly, President Emmanuel Macron said in hopes of bringing peace to the region, but the plan drew angry rebukes from Israel and the United States.

Middle East Conflict

Macron says France will recognize Palestine as a state

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has approved a draft bill to restore the independence of anti-corruption agencies, following nationwide protests and EU concerns over recent reforms that threatened their autonomy.

Ukraine Invasion

Zelensky approves anti-corruption bill after protests

Chinese and European Union leaders have met in Beijing for their first in-person summit since 2023, addressing a range of contentious issues amidst growing trade tensions. The talks, led by Chinese President Xi Jinping and EU officials Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, highlighted the complex nature of China-EU relations.

Beijing

China-EU summit ends in climate deal, talks strain over Ukraine

The United Kingdom and India have signed a trade agreement that will reduce tariffs on goods from textiles to whisky, cars and spices and allow more market access for businesses. British PM Keir Starmer hailed the agreement as a “landmark moment” for both countries.

London

Global Tariffs

UK, India sign free trade agreement during Modi visit

President Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell had a disagreement almost immediately as the two men set foot in the Fed's headquarters in Washington to survey an extensive renovation project on two of the reserve's buildings. Nancy Cordes has more.

Trump, Powell clash during tour of Federal Reserve renovations

Hulk Hogan, the legendary professional wrestler whose real name was Terry Bollea, died on Thursday at the age of 71, according to World Wrestling Entertainment.

Clearwater

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan dead at the age of 71, WWE says

At least 12 were killed as a Thai-Cambodian border dispute escalated into deadly clashes on Thursday (July 24).

Surin

Thailand bombs Cambodian targets as border clash escalates

According to preliminary data, 43 passengers, including five children, and six crew members were on board.

Tynda

Passenger plane crashes in Russia, killing all 49 people on board

Pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has died, World Wrestling Entertainment said in a statement on social media. He was 71. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul has more.

Hulk Hogan dies at 71, WWE says

The Wall Street Journal reports that former Attorney General Pam Bondi told President Trump his name appeared in the Epstein files. The White House denies wrongdoing.

Report: Trump was briefed on mentions in Epstein files

Columbia University will pay $200 million to resolve federal claims it failed to stop harassment of Jewish students during campus protests. The Trump administration had suspended the school's access to $400 million in funding.

New York

Columbia settles for $200 million over antisemitism claims

Israel issued a statement indicating that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the Gaza negotiating team to return to Israel for ceasefire talks. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio reports.

Jerusalem

Israel brings back Gaza negotiating team for ceasefire 'consultations'

Also in the settlement is an agreement to ask prospective international students “questions designed to elicit their reasons for wishing to study in the United States,” and establishes processes to make sure all students are committed to “civil discourse.”

Columbia University to pay more than $220M in deal with Trump

There are several developments in the cases involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the migrant in ICE custody whom the Trump administration wrongly deported. CBS News' Katrina Kaufman reports.

Nashville

Kilmar Abrego Garcia to remain detained following new court orders

Dr. Salvador Plasencia admitted to distributing ketamine to actor Matthew Perry before his 2023 overdose. He is the fourth person to plead guilty in the case and faces up to 40 years in prison.

Los Angeles

Doctor pleads guilty in Matthew Perry death case

While both sides acknowledged progress on humanitarian issues, talks on a full ceasefire remain stalled. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for "result-oriented negotiations" to end the devastating war.

Istanbul

Russia and Ukraine conclude third round of peace talks in Istanbul

A passenger plane has crashed in southeastern Russia with up to 49 people onboard. Emergency services say the An-24 aircraft took off from the city of Khabarovsk and was heading to the town of Tynda. Wreckage was found on a mountainside around 15 kilometres from the flight's intended destination.

Russian passenger plane with 49 on board crashes

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed to retain the independence of anti-corruption agencies, bowing to pressure from the first wartime street protests and rare rebukes from European allies.

Kyiv

Zelenskiy to protect anti-corruption agencies, bows to protests

U.S. President Donald Trump's name is among the many appearing in the Epstein files, according to the Wall Street Journal, and he was told as much earlier this year by the U.S. Justice Department.

Trump calls reports he knew his name is in Epstein files ‘fake news’

Dr. Salvador Plasencia, the doctor accused of supplying Matthew Perry with ketamine in the month leading up to his death, has pleaded guilty to four counts  of distribution of ketamine. Plasencia is the fourth of the five people charged in connection with Perry's death to plead guilty.

California

Doctor accused of supplying ketamine to Matthew Perry pleads guilty

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged prisoners following the latest round of talks in Istanbul. The swap, involving dozens of soldiers — some severely wounded and held since the war’s start in 2022 — took place on Wednesday night. While the prisoner exchange marks a rare point of agreement, both delegations remain divided on ceasefire terms.

Ukraine-Russia talks: Delegations remain divided on ceasefire terms

After reviewing the Epstein files, Attorney General Pam Bondi told President Trump his name appears alongside many others, according to a new report in the Wall Street Journal. CNN’s Paula Reid details what we know.

DOJ told Trump his name is among many in Epstein files: Sources

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a bill reducing the autonomy of two Ukrainian anti-corruption bureaus. Ukrainians protested in Lviv and Kyiv, concerned that the bill could lead to more corruption and threaten Ukraine’s chances of entering the European Union.

Ukrainians protest new anti-corruption law

A federal judge on Wednesday ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia's release as a second judge barred ICE from taking him into custody. CBS News legal reporter Katrina Kaufman has more.

Judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia's release

A judge on Wednesday (July 23) sentenced Bryan Kohberger to four life sentences without the possibility of parole after he pleaded guilty to the murders of four University of Idaho students in 2022.

Boise

Bryan Kohberger sentenced to life in prison

House Speaker Mike Johnson is sending lawmakers home early for their August recess amid a continued push to release all files related to Jeffrey Epstein. CBS News' Taurean Small has the latest.

Speaker Johnson sends House lawmakers home early

Venezuela Attorney General Tarek Saab's office will investigate El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele and two other officials for the alleged abuse of Venezuelans who were detained in the Central American country.

Caracas

Venezuela to investigate Bukele for alleged detainee abuse

U.S. President Donald Trump touted new trade agreements with Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines ahead of his looming August 1 global tariff deadline. CBS News' Natalie Brand has the latest from the White House.

Trump touts new trade deals with Japan, Indonesia, Philippines

As Bryan Kohberger faces sentencing for the University of Idaho murders, families and investigators are breaking their silence. The gag order has been lifted, prompting emotional impact statements and new revelations from officials involved in the case.

Officials, families break silence as Bryan Kohberger sentencing begins

U.S. President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of "treason" on Tuesday, accusing him, without providing evidence, of leading an effort to falsely tie him to Russia and undermine his 2016 presidential campaign.

Breakdown