Kathrine Alderman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
As people, sometimes it's easy to take something for granted, or not realize quite how important something is until you need it more than ever. Something that a lot of people might not realize is important is properly displayed address numbers.
Sure, everyone can see the basic importance of displaying address number properly, as without them it would be a lot harder for you to get your mail or for people to find your house. Beyond that, though, if your address is obscured somehow or maybe is just hard to see because it's, for example, black on black, that could make it much harder for 911 emergency response to find you.
Alongside just having your number's displayed correctly, you should also make sure your address is registered in the 911 Network. When you register a new address, the Planning Department assigns the address and passes it on to the Property Appraiser and the Sheriff's Office. Then that information is added to the 911 Network so that if a call comes in from that location, your information is readily available to the officer, firefighter and/or emt that is dispatched to the site.
Often, when people move, they don't update their medical, gate codes, etc. with the Sheriff's Office, either. It would be a good idea for new homeowners, especially if their in a situation where someone in the household has any sort of medical condition or if they have a gate with a gate code, to make sure the information is current.
Without properly updated information, emergency assistance may struggle to get to your house, and knowing of preexisting medical conditions can save a life. Aside from being registered, displaying your address numbers correctly is one of the most important things to do. If your numbers are hidden, hard to read or just plain not displayed, then emergency assistance could take significantly longer to find your house, which could lead to awful consequences.
Displaying your numbers correctly is something that could save your life, so how exactly do you display them correctly?
First of all, even if mail isn't delivered to the address, it should be properly displayed. If it isn't, someone who was in a wreck or is calling 911 from the street may not be able to accurately say where they are calling from.
Address numbers should be displayed as follows:
•It should be displayed at the intersection of the drive to the building and the road passing the property, either public or private.
•It should be displayed in a manner that can be seen from either direction when passing down the road.
•The number should be between two and four feet off the ground.
•It can be fastened to the mailbox if it is within ten feet of the drive and there is no chance it could be mistaken for a neighbors number.
•All vegetation must be kept from covering the number.
•If the building is in a subdivision or city street type situation and less than 75 feet from the road, the number can be placed on the building within three feet of the front door as long as it is viewable from the road by a passing vehicle.
•When more than one building, use, suite, unit or apartment is assigned the same address number and individual buildings, uses, suites, units or apartments are assigned separate identifying letters or numbers, the common address number should be displayed as mentioned in the above points and the individual building, use, suite, unit or apartment number should be displayed on or within three feet of the door of each unit.
•Street address numerals should be in Arabic numerals, made of reflective material and should not be less than four inches in height and one-half inch in width.
•The numerals should be of contrasting color with the immediate background of the building, structure or material they are placed on.
•Any other numbers which may be mistaken or confused with the assigned street address should be removed to display the address correctly.
Again, making sure your address is displayed correctly could save your or someone else's life. It's also important to register your address with the 911 Network, if you haven't. Keeping these things updated and taking the time to follow the guidelines may seem a bit tedious at times, but it's something that we all should do, just in case we ever need it.
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