Knott County E-911 Office
- E-911 Coordinator: Vanessa Cook
- Assistant Homeland Security Director: Michael Sturgill
- Phone: (606)785-4774
- Fax: (606)785-0004
- Email: vcook@knottky.com
- Email: msturgill@knottky.com
- Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm
What is 911?
911 is the three-digit telephone number that has been designated as the "Universal Emergency Number" for public use throughout the country to report emergencies and request emergency assistance. The E-911 System provides computer aided dispatch in which the caller's name and address appear on the dispatcher's screen when the emergency call is made. Emergency personnel responding to the call will be able to locate the residence or business quicker. The display of the caller's address is especially important if the caller cannot communicate this information. All 911 calls placed in Knott County are routed through Kentucky State Police Post 13 in Hazard, Kentucky. The KSP 911 Center is equipped not only with computers that display the caller's information but a map providing the exact location of the structure. Major components of developing the E-911 System have been mapping the entire county, naming roads, assigning new 911 addresses to all habitable structures and installing road signs.
Code of Kentucky allows localities to establish a tax on telephone bills in order to pay for the initial capital cost and installation of the system, as well as the continual maintenance and upgrade of the system. This is the approach localities in the state have taken in order to pay for the E-911 service. Based on the proposed budget for implementation, projected maintenance and upgrade, and the number of telephones in the county, the $1.50 per month fee was proposed as the amount needed to provide the necessary funding for this project.
Addressing:
A key component of an Enhanced 911 system is structure identification. All habitable structures (residential, public, commercial, etc.) are required to have a 911 address, even if this will not be the mailing address. Rural route and box addresses are no longer assigned. The E-911 Office does all addressing of new structures.
A representative from the E-911 Office does a GPS satellite reading for all new structures. The coordinates are used to address the new structures. The new address is then given to the person who owns the property. The new address is also mailed to the Post Office that will be servicing that particular address.
House numbers must be displayed in accordance with a County Ordinance. The house number must be: At least three inches in height, visible from the driveway entrance, and visible from both directions. Additionally, the house number must be shown on the rural mailbox and be visible to the carrier as he/she approaches. If two numbered structures share the same driveway, the number must be displayed at the driveway entrance and structure entrance.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I get an E-911 street address?
The first step to get an E-911 street address is to contact the E-911 Office. You will need to be able to specify the general area where your property is located. If construction has not been started or a mobile home has not been set up on the property you must have some type of marker on the property. An E-911 address cannot be assigned to a location until the primary driveway has been constructed. The address along with a map of the area will be sent to you and the Post Office that serves the structure.
Why do I need an E-911 street address when I have a Post Office box?
You need an E-911 street address to apply for and receive telephone and electrical service. When anyone dials "911", the street address where that call was made is instantly made available to dispatchers in the Kentucky State Police Post's Communications Center. The street address where the call was made determines which law enforcement, fire, or rescue unit is sent to your location when you request emergency assistance.