Enhanced 911 project may change some addresses

Some residents in nine Luzerne County municipalities might soon encounter people who want to give them new addresses.

Luzerne County 911 has contracted with GeoComm Inc. of St. Cloud, Minn., to implement an Enhanced 911 standardized addressing system for residents of Bear Creek, Dallas, Kingston, Jackson and Slocum townships and Harveys Lake, Dallas, Jeddo and Laurel Run boroughs.

Beginning Monday, GeoComm employees will visit parts of those nine municipalities that do not have standard street addresses that meet National Emergency Number Association standards, said Fred Rosencrans, data manager/technical support supervisor for Luzerne County 911.

The employees will match names and phone numbers with physical property locations and later assign new street addresses in conjunction with the U.S. Postal Service.

For example, homes and businesses with a rural route box number such as “RR1, Box 234” will be assigned a street name and number such as “345 Main St.” Residents will be notified by mail if their address changes.

Rosencrans said people who place 911 emergency calls often have difficulty providing their addresses. E-911 automatically gives dispatchers the address, allowing them to send the appropriate emergency personnel, even if the caller is unable to communicate.

Rosencrans said 45 of the county’s 76 municipalities completed E-911 addressing either on their own or with assistance from his department.

GeoComm will be paid $975,637 for the project, which will be completed in two phases over the course of about a year, Rosencrans said.

Rosencrans said GeoComm employees who visit people’s homes during the first phase will have credentials. The company will notify his department and either municipal officials or municipal police on days GeoComm employees will be working in a municipality.

He said there would be no reason for the employees to enter residents’ homes unless they were invited in.

Rosencrans said people should post their E-911 street numbers at the entrance to their driveway, on their home or on their mailbox. The numbers should be visible from the road and should be 3 to 6 inches high on a contrasting background.

People living on a shared private access road should name the road and post the road name to improve emergency response time, he said.

On a private road?

Call Luzerne County 911 Data & Mapping Department at 826-3053 or your local municipal office with questions on addressing and naming your private road.

Clear 36°

News

Upgrading of standardized addressing system taking place in nine municipalities.

On a private road?

Place Quick Ads