HAMBURG, N.Y. (WKBW) — It's something simple, but it could make all the difference. Clear house numbers at your home can save a life, and you're required to have them.
"It is truly life and death for you to have those numbers," said Dan Neaverth, the Commissioner of Erie County Emergency Services, "The number should be by law on your mailbox. Your home is equally important."
A common problem is some numbers are blocked by landscaping. Some homes simply don't have an address showing at all. Neaverth said that actually puts you in danger. When first responders can't see your address, there is a work around. They use specific maps to direct officers out on a call, but it comes at a cost.
"That solution comes with a consequence - a delay. The delay often times is a matter of seconds, and those seconds can add up," Sean Crotty, the Emergency Manager in the Town of Hamburg said.
That's why it's crucial to help your responders help you.
"It's a way of assisting them to try and find you when you need them," Crotty said.
Best practices when it comes to your house number:
- Large, visible from the road
- Above 4 and a half inches
- Reflective or lit up
