GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”
That’s the unofficial motto of the US Postal Service.
When it’s -16 below zero outside that motto becomes very, very real to postal carriers like Green Bay’s Jack Mannion.
“When the sun is shining, and it’s a blue bird day in Wisconsin in January, we just know we might have to be ready for subzero temperatures,” Mannion told WTAQ.
The key to doing it? Hydration, taking breaks, and layers.
“In my mail truck I do have some hot coffee. I do have some water–without ice, mind you,” Mannion laughed. “I’m wearing layers. The postal service provides toe warmers and hand warmers.”
Mannion has been a postal carrier since 2001 and says that even though he has to go out in ski goggles and a facemask so that the condesation from his breath won’t freeze his eyelids shut, he still prefers extremely cold days to extremely hot days.
“The cold really does do a number on anybody working outside,” Mannion said. “[But] I’m a snow guy, I’ll be honest with you. I like it.”
The good news for Mannion is that on Thursday temperatures will get up to around 27 degrees, a full 43 degrees higher than the cold morning lows of Wednesday.
