House Numbers Costing Valuable Time for First Responders

First responders have encountered many homes without visible house numbers in recent months says Willow Springs Police Chief Bryan Hogan.

“It’s a problem not only in town but also throughout the County, and it’s something that has been taken for granted over time. Maybe one of the digits falls off and we think, ‘Oh we’ll get to it, it’s not that big of a deal.’ But you never know when an emergency is going to happen. In an emergency, seconds count. If we can find the address, we are going to be able to get there quicker, start interventions and be able to assist whoever needs helps. However, if we have to look around, it will take up very valuable time,” Chief Hogan explained. 

Recently, the police have had extended delay times inside city limits for domestic violence calls because of missing address numbering and bad directions. It took some time to locate the callers. 

“It’s also important to remember to have the number be a contrasting color of the house or it will blend in and be hard to see. Furthermore, if your house sits back off the street, or you have a long driveway, make sure there is some sort of marker near the road to identify the house for emergency responders. In fact, if it’s dark outside and you call for help, turn on the porch light to help illuminate the house,” continued Chief Hogan.

If you live in an apartment, or rent property, the police department requests that you work with your landlord to make sure the building, business, home, or property is marked properly and can be seen easily.

More tips to make sure your address number is in accordance with city ordinances include:

-Post your address where it can be seen from across the street and at all angles.

-Use large numbers to make it easier to see from a distance.

-Reflective material will help it be seen at night.

-Ensure bushes, trees, and other debris does not cover the address.