The Importance of an Address Number

The Importance of Posting
an Address Number for 911

Cambria County 911 Address Enforcement Ordinance

With Cambria County having a 911 system in place, the importance of having an address number on your home can not be emphasized enough. Consider this real-life incident that recently happened in Jackson Township. A call was placed to 911 reporting that a man was undergoing cardiac-arrest. Jackson EMS was dispatched to the address. They were desperately searching for an address number on homes along the street and stopped at three homes that had no number. Fortunately the residents were home and they eventually got directed them to the correct address. "In life-threatening situations, every minute is critical" according to Tim Hofecker, President of the Jackson Twp. Vol. Fire Company.

In an effort to serve you better, the Police Department is requesting that residents cooperate in posting their street numbers on their homes. The Jackson Township Police Department advise, "When we are called to a home for an emergency, time is always critical. That means finding that residence as quickly as possible. Walk out to the street in front of your home and see if your house numbers can be easily seen. If they can be, then we have a greater chance of possibly saving a life."

The Jackson Township Police offer these guidelines:
The numbers on residences should be at least 3 inches high and the numbers on businesses should be at least 4 inches high.

Numbers should be a contrasting color to the background.

Numbers should be placed on, above, or at the side of the main entrance, so that they can be easily detected from the street.

If the entrance is more than 50 feet from the street, or cannot be seen from the street, a second set of numbers should also be displayed on the mailbox or on a post at the street or end of the drive.

Remember - your mailman always comes the same way. Police cars and fire trucks may come from any direction. Be sure to mark both sides of your mailbox or mark your house number in such a way that it may be easily seen, no matter which direction they are approaching.

Reflective numbers or one of the new light-up signs are recommended.

At the very least, any house number is better than none at all. Another concern to consider is that many Jackson Ambulance / EMS employees and Police Officers do not live in Jackson Township and not familiar with all of the streets or family names. This is all the more reason to have a house number clearly posted by your front door. If you still need another reason to post a number on your home, fines can range from $30.00 to $300.00 according to the Jackson Township Police Department.

The main concern of everyone is for the safety of the residents of Jackson Township. You never know when you may be the next one to call 911 for an emergency. Be sure your house number is posted and visible from the road so you can be found as quickly as possible as every minute counts.