Frequently Asked Questions about E-911 Service
WHAT IS E- 911 ? E-911 is a lifesaving emergency notification network in which the caller is identified by ANI (automatic number identifier) and ALI (automatic location identifier). This information is automatically displayed on the dispatchers computer screen at the time the emergency call is answered at the dispatch center. The caller is required to only dial 3 numbers 9-1-1 to be connected to the PSAP (public safety answering point). E-911 is a nationally known emergency notification number.
WHAT DOES THE E STAND FOR? Enhanced- this means the dispatcher gets address information as well as phone number information when you dial 9-1-1.
WHY DO WE NEED THAT HERE? Senate bill 148 passed the Virginia general assembly during its 2000 session. The law mandates that every county, city and town in Virginia shall be operating an E9-1-1 system by July 1, 2003. Currently a dispatcher will receive an emergency call and may be on the line with the caller from 1-5 minutes attempting to determine the location. Many times the directions are inaccurate, thus increasing the response time of law enforcement, fire or rescue personnel. 9-1-1 is a lifesaving emergency notification network in which the caller is identified by ANI (automatic number identifier) and ALI (automatic location identifier). The caller is required to only dial 3 numbers 9-1-1 to be connected to the PSAP (public safety answering point). 9-1-1 is a nationally known emergency notification number. Many times travelers or visitors may attempt to report an emergency. If we did not have 9-1-1, valuable time would be lost trying to determine what the emergency number was.
WILL MY ADDRESS CHANGE? An evaluation of existing addresses is occurring, however most addresses in the county will change. Rural route addressing, such as route 3 box 485 will no longer be utilized. 9-1-1 addressing will consist of a street name and house number being assigned. In areas where there are already street names and numbers, a verification process will occur to insure accuracy of the addressing and insure that there are not any duplicate road names. This evaluation will be completed before the address conversion takes place and will be handled by the re-addressing consulting firm.
WHY DOES A ROAD HAVE TO HAVE A NAME? The name assigns a specific name to a specific road which is used to identify your general location in the county. Your house number on that named road identifies your specific location on that road. Many times a caller is unable to give directions to their home or is unable to remember their road number in time of emergency.
WHAT WILL MY ADDRESS BE? Your new E-911 address will consist of a house number and street name. You will be notified of what your new address is and will receive a packet containing your new house numbers, address labels, and a list of suggested people you should notify about your address change.
HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN MY ADDRESS CHANGES? The E-911 department will notify you of what your new address is and when to start using your new address.
WILL I STILL BE ABLE TO GET MAIL AT MY POST OFFICE BOX? Yes, if you choose to keep your post office box for your mailing address that is ok. You will still get a new 9-1-1 address for you house, and you will still be require to post your house number on your house.
WILL I HAVE TO PUT MY NEW ADDRESS ON MY MAILBOX? Yes, the postal service needs to be able to find your mailbox.
WILL I HAVE TO PUT MY NEW ADDRESS ON MY HOUSE? Yes, you will be required to put your house number on your house. The E911 department will provide you with a set of house numbers to put on your house when you are notified of your new address.
YOU CAN’T SEE MY HOUSE FROM THE ROAD, HOW WILL RESPONDERS FIND ME? You will still be required to put your house number on your house and post your house number at the end of the driveway.
WHEN WILL MY ADDRESS CHANGE? You will be notified by the E-911 department when your address changes. The projected date is fall of 2004.
WHAT ARE THESE FORMS I FOUND ON MY DOOR? The forms left by the E-911 address verification team are very important to the re-addressing process. You must complete the form and return it to the e9-1-1 department immediately. The requested information is necessary complete the address conversion process. The 9-1-1 system is linked to your telephone information and your address. We must have your existing address and telephone number.
WHAT IS THAT $3.00 CHARGE ON MY PHONE BILL FOR? The surcharge is to be utilized for the development and implementation of Scott County’s E-911 system. These funds are used for such things as digital mapping, address conversion, street signage, the E-911 telephone system, network costs, psap (public safety answering point) planning and design, security measures, voice logging equipment, computer-aided dispatch, E-911 radio equipment, additional E-911 dispatchers and training, gis database development of emergency resources, establishment of emergency service zones and emergency service numbers. It is also to be used for the continuing operation, maintenance and upgrades of the E-911 system.
IF I HAVE TWO PHONE LINES IN MY HOUSE AND ONE IS CONNECTED TO A COMPUTER, WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY THE $3.00 CHARGE ON THE COMPUTER LINE? The county ordinance states; “such tax is imposed per access line…” the rationale behind per access lien is that at any given time a phone capable of dialing 9-1-1 could be connected to the phone line going to the computer and additionally a person could dial 9-1-1 from their computer. Database development and programming to recognize ANI (automatic number identifier) and ALI (automatic location identifier) is required for that specific phone line for the E-911 system in the event of an emergency.
WHO DO I CONTACT ABOUT THIS FORM? If you have questions regarding the address verification form, please call the number listed on the card. 800-554-0147 and ask for the E-911 address team.
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE AT MY DOOR REQUESTING MY PHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS? The address verification team will be visiting every resideince and business in Scott County in the coming months. The teams will consist of employees of the firm of Anderson and Associates and may also include employees of the E-911 department.
I HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO GIVE OUT MY INFORMATION, HOW DO I KNOW IT IS SAFE TO GIVE IT TO THESE PEOPLE? The address verification teams will have appropriate identification. They will either be employees of Anderson and Associates or of the E-911department. They will be in vehicles marked Anderson and Associates 9-1-1 mapping or in county vehicles marked Scott County E-911
WHAT IS MY ROAD NAME? Most public road names have been adopted by the board of supervisors. You may obtain road name information by calling the Scott County E-911 department at 386-6521 or 386-7220. If you live on a private road with 3 or more habitable structures, your road will also receive a name. These roads will be named in the early spring of 2004.
I LIVE ON A PRIVATE ROAD, WILL MY ADDRESS CHANGE? Yes, most all addresses in the county will change. There is a possibility that some addresses inside town limits may not change. When the 9-1-1 system is complete there will no longer be any route /box address left in the county.
I LIVE ON A PRIVATE ROAD, HOW DO I NAME MY ROAD? Private roads with 3 or more habitable structures will receive a road name. The private road naming process will begin in the early spring of 2004. If you have not submitted a road names suggestion form, there will be an opportunity provided to come to a community meeting to offer a suggestion for your road name.
WHAT’S THE NUMBER FOR 9-1-1? 9-1-1
WHO ANSWERS THE CALLS AT 9-1-1? The 9-1-1 phone system will connect you to the dispatchers currently at Scott County Central Dispatch.
WILL WE HAVE IMPROVED RESCUE/FIRE /POLICE RESPONSE WHEN 9-1-1 GOES INTO EFFECT? Rescue/ fire / police services are the responsibility of the responding agencies. 911 expedite the answering of the call and provides mapping to locate the emergency.
CAN YOU USE SOME OF THAT MONEY TO PAY THE RESCUE SQUAD/FIRE DEPARTMENTS? No. The code is specific on the use of the funds.
WHO HAS ACCESS TO MY INFORMATION? The information obtained by the E9-1-1 address verification team will be kept confidential. It will be used by the E-911 department, the telephone company and the postal service. The oil tank/propane tank question will be supplied to the fire department for use in fire hazard planning.
WILL I HAVE TO CHANGE MY DRIVERS LICENSE AFTER MY ADDRESS CHANGES? Yes, the department of motor vehicles requires that you notify them when your address changes.
WHO DO I NEED TO NOTIFY WHEN MY ADDRESS CHANGES? A list of address change notification suggestions will be provided to you when you are notified of your new address. A good rule of thumb is to notify anyone you received a bill from, including the phone company, your family members and friends, magazine subscription departments, credit card companies, banking institutions, etc.
WHO WILL YOU NOTIFY THAT MY ADDRESS HAS CHANGED? The E-911 department will notify you that your address has changed.
WHEN CAN I START DIALING 9-1-1? The 9-1-1 number is operational from landline phones at this time as a call forwarding feature. It is not a fully functioning enhanced 9-1-1 system as no information is provided to the dispatcher such as your phone number or address.
WILL ASSISTANCE BE PROVIDED TO ELDERLY RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO DO THE ADDRESS CHANGE/ OR COMPLETE THERE VERIFICATION FORM? The Scott County E-911 department will provide training to other agencies such as RADA, Department of Social Services, the Health Department, etc so that they will be able to assist their clients with this process. If you need help with your form, you may contact Anderson and Associates at 1-800-544-0147 or the E-911 office at 386-6521 or 386-7220 for assistance.
I DIALED 9-1-1 FROM MY CELL PHONE, BUT I DIDN’T GET SCOTT COUNTY, WHY IS THAT? Some cell phone companies that service Scott County have not completed their call routing phase of wireless E-911 service. Depending on your cell phone carrier, you may be connected with the state police or a neighboring jurisdiction. The cell phone companies are working to correct this situation.
I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE, BUT IT IS NOT AN EMERGENCY, WHO DO I CALL? When the E-911 system is completed and fully functional, there will be a non-emergency number that you may use for non-emergency situations. The 911 number is only to be used to summons help during an emergency situation.
CAN I KEEP MY OLD ADDRESS? If you currently have a post office box for your mailing address you may retain that address as your mailing address, but you will also still receive a E-911 address consisting of a house number and street name. If you live inside a town boundary whether your address will change will be determined by the re-addressing consultant. If it is determined that your address needs to change to be compatible with the E-911 system, then your address will change.
I ALREADY HAVE A STREET NAME AND HOUSE NUMBER, WILL IT STAY THE SAME? An existing address which contains a house number and street name will be reviewed by the re-addressing consultant. If it is determined that your existing address is incompatible with the E-911 addressing schema, your address will change.
WHOW CAN I CALL IF I HAVE A QUESTION? If you have a question regarding your address verification form please contact Anderson and Associates E-911 department at 1-800-544-0147.
I AM MOVING TO SCOTT COUNTY, WHO DO I CONTACT TO FIND OUT WHAT MY ADDRESS IS? Until the E-911 project is complete, you will still contact the United States Postal Service to obtain your address. When the address conversion process is complete you would then contact the Scott County E-911 office to obtain address information.
I AM BUILDING A HOUSE IN SCOTT COUNTY, HOW DO I GET AN ADDRESS SO THAT I CAN HAVE MY POWER TURNED ON? Until the E-911 project is complete, you will still contact the United States Postal Service to obtain your address. When the address conversion process is complete you would then contact the Scott County E-911 office to obtain address information.
I HAVE THIS NOTICE FROM DMV SAYING I CAN’T USE MY PO BOX AS MY ADDRESS ANYMORE, THAT I HAVE TO HAVE A PHYSICAL ADDRESS, WHO DO I CONTACT TO GET ONE? Until the E-911 project is complete, you will still contact the United States Postal Service to obtain your address. When the address conversion process is complete you would then contact the Scott County E-911 office to obtain address information.
SHOULD I ORDER NEW CHECKS WITH MY CURRENT ADDRESS ON THEM? The proposed date for address conversion is the fall of 2004. You should order enough checks to last until then.
I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX; WILL I STILL HAVE A STREET ADDRESS AND APARTMENT NUMBER? Yes, apartment complexes will be addressed with a house number, street name and unit number.
WILL I USE MY 9-1-1 ADDRESS TO RECEIVE MAIL? If you do not choose to receive mail at a post office box then you will use your 9-1-1 address as your mailing address.