Law Enforcment's Urgent Request for Rural Arizona Homeowners

Accurate Rural Address Visibility

I live in a rural area, so I don't receive many deliveries. I recently found a service that delivers groceries to my home. I was thrilled, but the process quickly uncovered a problem I hadn't considered before: the visibility of my street address.

I was so happy I could get groceries delivered. When drivers couldn't find my house, it was time to make sure my address was visible from the road. Canva

The grocery delivery driver struggled to find our house, and the GPS software she was using sent her to the wrong place. That's when we realized my street address was not only missing a number, but it was also extremely hard to find.

A Visible Address Ensures a Quick Response in an Emergency

Natural disasters can occur at any time. With wildfires and other emergencies occurring year-round, it's essential that first responders can contact homeowners and residents as quickly and efficiently as possible.

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In an emergency, minutes count. Make sure first responders can find you. Canva

911Ready.org offers tips on how to help emergency responders locate your home when every minute counts. One of the best ways to ensure help can arrive and find you as quickly as possible is to follow these simple steps by following the 9-1-1 Partner Checklist.

1. (Number) Size Matters

First, make sure drivers can easily read your address from the street.

Make sure your address can be seen from the street. If you don't have a mailbox, consider installing a post or a sign. Canva

"Install 3-inch-high white reflective numbers on a dark background on both sides of your mailbox," the checklist advises. That's great advice if you live in a place where your mailbox is situated near the road.

If you don't have a mailbox outside of your home, they advise:

If you use community mailboxes rather than individual mailboxes, consider mounting your address on both sides of a post near the roadside.

If you're mounting your numbers on a post, increase the size by at least one inch to 4-inch-high numbers, and use white, reflective lettering. Be sure to locate the post near the road.

Self-adhesive address numbers and kits are available for purchase at local hardware stores.

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2. Do a Drive-By to Make Sure Your House Numbers Can Be Seen

Reality-check your work. Be sure to drive down your street in both directions and ensure you can easily locate your house numbers. If it isn't clear which house the numbers belong to, add an arrow for clarification.

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3. Post Twice if You Share a Driveway

If you live on a long or shared driveway, post your house numbers at least twice. Once near the driveway entrance and again outside your home.

If you share a driveway, make sure you post the numbers at the opening of the driveway and in front of your house. Canva

4. Clear Obstructions from View

Ensure that vegetation and other obstructions don't obstruct your view of the house numbers from the road. You may have to trim trees or bushes or clear away vegetation to keep the numbers visible.

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Be sure to clear away weeds and growth around your street sign so it's always visible. Canva

5. Illumination is Key

If you live on a dark road, you may want to consider illumination. First responders may have to find you at night, so double-check the visibility of your house numbers when it's dark.

Consider adding solar lights to your sign to add illumination at night. Canva

Ensure the numbers you choose are highly contrasting against the background and easy to read. If you're struggling to see the numbers, emergency personnel will, too. Consider adding a solar-powered light to make it easier to spot.

If you'd like more information on properly setting up your street address, here's a handy checklist to get you started.

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