Quick Read
- Walmart and Target stores are generally expected to remain open, but customers should check local hours for adjustments.
- Walmart is ensuring essential items like blankets and batteries are available in affected areas.
- Target advises customers to use its online store locator for current store status.
- U.S. Postal Service (USPS) may delay or suspend mail delivery in hazardous weather conditions.
- Regional retailers, such as H-E-B in Texas, have also implemented adjusted operating hours.
UNITED STATES (Azat TV) – Major retailers Walmart and Target are largely planning to keep their doors open during the severe winter storm currently sweeping across significant portions of the United States, but are advising customers to verify local store hours due to potential weather-related adjustments. Simultaneously, mail delivery services are expected to experience disruptions, with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) prepared to delay or suspend operations in hazardous conditions, underscoring the widespread impact of the inclement weather on daily life.
Retailers Prioritize Safety and Supply
As the winter storm intensifies, affecting regions from the South to the Midstate and extending to the Northeast, both Walmart and Target have issued statements outlining their operational strategies. A Walmart spokesperson assured Newsweek that the company is focused on ensuring customers and communities have necessary supplies, utilizing its extensive supply chain to respond quickly and effectively. The spokesperson noted that Walmart is taking steps to ensure essential items, such as blankets, batteries, and other cold-weather necessities, are available in impacted communities. Furthermore, Walmart is coordinating with community and nonprofit partners to support local response efforts where possible, and any specific store closures or altered hours will be communicated via the company’s website.
Similarly, a Target representative confirmed to Newsweek that Target stores are stocked and well-equipped to serve guests across various weather conditions. The company stated it is closely monitoring the winter storm and encouraged guests to find the current status of any store by visiting its online store locator page. These statements reflect a proactive approach by major retailers to maintain service while prioritizing safety and community needs during severe weather events.
Mail Delivery Faces Potential Delays
The U.S. Postal Service has also outlined its protocols for severe weather, indicating that post offices may close, and carriers are not obligated to deliver mail under perilous conditions. USPS guidance explicitly states that carriers are not required to navigate ‘slippery steps, snow-packed paths or icy overhangs.’ A past USPS news release affirmed, ‘While our goal is to deliver the mail, we stand by the decisions of local managers and/or carriers when delivery is suspended due to an immediate, serious safety concern — particularly during changeable weather conditions.’
The Postal Service maintains a specific policy for ‘hazardous conditions/natural disasters,’ which permits mail delivery service to be delayed or curtailed when streets or walkways pose risks to carriers or vehicles. This measure is described as a last resort, undertaken only after careful consideration. Consumers, small businesses, and business mailers are advised to monitor USPS Service Alerts for real-time information regarding weather-related disruptions in their areas.
Regional Adjustments and Consumer Preparedness
Beyond national chains, regional retailers are also making localized adjustments. In Texas, for instance, H-E-B stores across the Austin area adjusted their hours, operating from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, and reopening at 9 a.m. on Sunday. Stores in the DFW Metroplex and San Antonio metro area operated from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and opened at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Houston H-E-B and Houston Mi Tienda stores also had specific Saturday hours (6 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and opened at 8 a.m. on Sunday, with some locations returning to regular hours by Monday, January 26. These examples highlight the granular level at which weather impacts necessitate operational changes, underscoring the importance for individuals to consult specific store and service websites for the most current information.
The widespread nature of this winter storm, impacting diverse regions across the U.S., necessitates a decentralized approach to retail and postal service operations, making real-time local information crucial for consumers navigating these disruptions.