For several years, Tallahatchie County has been quietly immersed in a project to improve its 911 addressing system, and local residents soon will be receiving a new 911 address.
The changes are designed to greatly enhance the accuracy of GPS navigation devices in relation to actual physical locations. This information is used by emergency response agencies such as law enforcement, fire departments and ambulance services, among others, to find a home, business or other address as quickly as possible.
The Tallahatchie County 911 Addressing Department, under the direction of Talbot Brooks, who heads up the Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information Technologies at Delta State University in Cleveland, has adopted the state of Mississippi’s addressing standards and the enhanced 911 National Emergency Numbering Association guidelines.
The new addressing system in Tallahatchie County will impact all residents, including those living within municipalities.
The Tallahatchie County 911 Addressing Department will begin the process of addressing on Aug. 21, according to a news release from Ashley Williams of that department, located within the Tallahatchie County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) office.
Williams said employees from the 911 Addressing Department and local EMA office will be going door to door throughout the county, delivering postcards featuring each location’s official new 911 address.
Williams added that the employees will be wearing name badges and driving vehicles with markings that identify them as being associated with the Tallahatchie EMA or 911 Addressing Department.
If no one is at home, Williams said a door hanger will be left with a postage prepaid postcard included for returning.
Williams said more information, such as when residents are to begin using their new 911 address for mailing and house identification, will be forthcoming. Local officials are presently in discussions with the U.S. Postal Service about how and when to roll out the new Tallahatchie County addresses for mail delivery purposes, she added.
In the meantime, anyone with questions or concerns is advised to call the 911/EMA office at 647-3182, 647-2540 or to email tallahatchie911addressing@hotmail.com.
