The city of Early has issued a permit to SafetyStreets.com, a sign company, to go door to door making and installing 911 address signs.

Early Police Chief David Mercer said that finding addresses is one of the biggest hurdles emergency services have to clear while trying to find the location of an emergency.

“Many homes and businesses do not have their address numbers posted on their property,” Mercer said.  “When emergency services respond to an emergency, they begin looking for house numbers after they arrive on the street.”

Mercer said that homes that do not have numbers visibly displayed at the street can greatly increase the response time for the responding units. By having a 911 address number on a mailbox or home, the time it takes locating a residence can be reduced.

The company Safety Streets.com owned by Tom Brown of Parchment, Michigan is in the area selling reflective signs. Brown and his company will make and install the sign with a house number on your mailbox or home.  The cost to the home owner is $23.00 and Brown will donate $2.00 from each purchase to the Early Beautification Commission.

“I urge residents to consider these signs for their homes and businesses,” said Mercer.  “Mounting the sign on your home or mailbox is strictly up to the homeowner, but we encourage mounting the sign on the mailbox at the street.”

SafetyStreets.com has been endorsed by the Early Beautification Commission, Guardian EMS, Early Police Department and the Early Volunteer Fire Department.   Those interested in seeing a sample or making a purchase, can call Tom Brown at 269-806-7063.

Mercer said, “Having these signs installed will aid you, your family and neighbors in getting emergency personnel to you quicker in your time of need.”