Emergency 911 (E-911) Addressing
A new 911 address is applied for at the time the building/mobile home permit application is submitted.
Since the establishment of the Emergency 911 system, each structure has been assigned a physical address in the rural portion of McDuffie County as well as within the City of Thomson and the Town of Dearing for the purpose of locating the structure in the event of an emergency.
The process of assigning addresses to all McDuffie County properties began in the early 1990's. The McDuffie County Planning Commission is the sole addressing agent for the entire McDuffie County area, including the City of Thomson and the Town of Dearing. All addresses in McDuffie County must be assigned by and approved by this office.
Physical addresses are attached to the GPS point where the structure (residential or commercial) is located so that when 911 is dialed, a location is displayed for emergency services. Therefore, if the caller is unable to speak or give the dispatcher driving instructions, he or she can still be located by emergency service personnel.
To keep people from having to remember two addresses -- a mailing address (route and box) and a physical address -- the Postal Service converted to physical addressing for mail delivery as well.
Your address numbers should be posted and visible from the road so that emergency service agencies can easily find you in case of an emergency. Posted numbers should be a minimum of four inches (4") in height.
Please use the following instructions when posting your address number:
- Numbers shall be mounted on your mailbox.
- Numbers must be visible from public roadway.
- Make sure no weeds or any other items block the view of the address numbers.
- Address numbers shall be mounted at driveway entrance.
- Numbers shall be 4" minimum in size.
- Numbers must be reflective type.
- Numbers must be contrasting with background.
- Numbers must be visible from both directions.
- Numbers shall not be mounted on doors or gates which are not stationary.
- Numbers shall be provided on structure when located more than 50 ft from roadway.
- Numbers shall be provided on building with multiple suites or tenant spaces.
