Easy to find

The E-911 system was devised to enable police, firefighters and ambulances to respond to an emergency quickly. Finding an address quickly could be as important as anything else the emergency workers do.

A decade ago, Scott County switched to an enhanced 911 address system that assigned numbers and street names to addresses instead of the old rural route numbers. But many houses out in the county have not posted these addresses at all or where emergency personnel can see them. This defeats the purpose of the enhanced 911 system.

Joe Burton, Scott County's E-911 administrator, wants to see those house numbers not only posted on homes in the county but clearly visible. He has asked the county commission adopt guidelines for posting the addresses. County commissioners say this is likely to happen soon. The sooner the better.

Equally as important are the easy-to-read house numbers that guide emergency crews to addresses in urban areas too. Rural areas have special needs when it comes to well-marked addresses. City residents who fail to put numbers on their home are also at risk.