Homes in Okla. Are Not Properly Marked For 911

Feb. 02--PAULS VALLEY, Oklahoma -- Help is definitely needed when it comes to the number of rural homes throughout Garvin County that don't properly display their new 911 addresses.

Doug Walling, coordinator of the Garvin County 911 telephone system, says that's a problem because it sometimes slows down first responders looking for the right place where help is needed.

"Yes it's a problem, and I believe most emergency responders in the county would agree," Walling said, referring to ambulance crews, firefighters and law enforcement officers.

"Right now most rural homes in the county are not properly marked with the new 911 addresses; only a few at best."

With that in mind Walling is now on a push to convince more residents in the county to get their homes marked with the new five-digit 911 address.

"It's very important to have the reflective markings with new 911 addresses. It helps emergency responders locate property without looking for landmarks," he said. "When they're posted where you can see it from the road, it makes it easier for the responders.

"As far as emergency services is concerned this is the quickest way to get to them."

Walling said there are a number of examples throughout the county of responders having trouble finding the right place where a 911 call was made.

One would be two residences with the same driveway. In this case both addresses need to be marked near that same driveway.

In some cases there are a number of driveways close together making it unclear for emergency responders which house goes with which address.

Naturally that can make it difficult for responders to pinpoint the exact residence where they need to go -- a real problem Walling said when seconds can count and a life can be on the line.

"It's best to post the horizontal or vertical signs on something close to the home's driveway," he said.

"I would recommend that people post the signs as near to their driveway as possible."

According to Walling, the signs could be posted on mailboxes, fence posts or anything capable of getting the markers placed near a home's driveway.

(Editor's Note: More on a county 4-H program, recommended by Walling, that provides reflective address markers will be in the weekend edition of the PV Democrat.)

Copyright 2012 - Pauls Valley Daily Democrat, Okla.