Armed with the new census information, Kitsap County
Central Communications (our 911 center) is coordinating an effort
with our police and fire agencies to weed out “problem addresses,”
around the county.
A rather unknown benefit of the census is that it helps ensure
homes and their addresses match up what’s on record. The benefit of
having correct addresses is that in the event of an emergency,
police officers or firefighters can find a location quickly without
confusion.
Kitsap County’s Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is also
helping with the project. More information can be found at www.kitsapaddress.com.
Here’s the news release
from the county:
(Port Orchard, WA) – Kitsap County Central Communications
(CenCom) is working with local first responders and Kitsap County’s
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) experts to correct problem
addresses throughout the County. While preparing for the 2010
Census, the County identified many homes whose actual location
differed from the location indicated by their address. Addresses
that are hard to find or are out of logical sequence are also
reported by first responders from fire, emergency medical, and law
enforcement agencies who encounter these problems when they respond
to emergency calls. Problem addresses also create challenges for
school districts, Kitsap Transit, delivery services, and other
agencies. “Correct addressing is absolutely critical to enable law
enforcement to respond to emergencies quickly and efficiently. Its
absence places our deputies, as well as the safety of our citizens
in jeopardy,” said Kitsap County Sheriff Steve Boyer.
There are many reasons problem addresses exist. Some addresses
were created long ago and assigned before the current addressing
conventions were established. Some annexations have brought
properties into a different addressing system for the City than the
addresses established by the County. The directional indicator
assigned to roads (such as NE, SW, etc.) are based on an addressing
grid and cause problems when the road extends in two different
parts of the grid. The project looks to correct these problems.
Once this is accomplished, officials are confident that
technological advances in GIS will prevent similar problems from
arising with new addresses in the future. “We have spent
considerable time and effort collecting and prioritizing problem
addresses throughout the county, so I am anxious to get the change
process started,” says Tom Powers, CenCom’s addressing coordinator.
“There is a lot of work to be done, but it is exciting to be moving
forward” Powers added. He provided examples of two scenarios
encountered during their research. These are actual scenarios with
the street names changed.
* There is a business at the corner of X and Y streets. The
business lists its address is 6090 X Street. Street addresses for
properties around the business are all in the 3200 block, which is
in line with the numbers on Y Street. The numbering sequence on X
Street is completely different. Their address places them at the
other end of X Street and creates confusion when someone is looking
for that business or a potential disaster in an emergency response
where time is critical.
* CENCOM receives a call for emergency services. The caller says
they are calling from 20595 Any Road. The 9-1-1 info says they are
calling from 20952 Any Road. The road is a private road and the
residence is not visible from the road. In this case the homeowner
went to the main road to help flag down the responders and direct
them to the proper address.
“There are also issues beyond emergency response and deliveries,”
notes Diane Mark from the County’s Information Services Division.
“Accurate addresses help ensure voters get the proper ballot, and
are essential for redistricting based on the 2010 census,”
according to Mark. “The Auditor’s Office must be able to match a
voter’s residence address to a parcel of land in order for that
voter to receive the correct ballot in an election,” says County
Auditor Walt Washington. “With the Census Bureau providing
population totals and redistricting of our city council, county
commissioner, legislative and congressional districts beginning in
2011 it is critical to our mission to provide voting materials in a
responsible and accurate fashion,” Washington added.
Most addresses are not affected by this project, and in some
areas the changes are not finalized, so it is not currently
possible or necessary to call and find out if your address is
likely to be changed. If there is a problem with your address you
will receive a letter advising of the problem and how it is being
corrected. The first phase of the program aims to correct out of
sequence numbering beginning in North Kitsap. Future phases will
include resolution of confusing existing road names as well as the
addition of new road names where unnamed driveways are serving
multiple residences and/or businesses. A public meeting on the
topic is planned for 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1 at North Kitsap
Fire & Rescue’s Paul T. Nichol Headquarters Fire Station (26642
Miller Bay Road NE) near Kingston. More information is available at
www.kitsapaddress.com
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