(Photo: WBOC)DEWEY BEACH, Del. - Dozens of new addresses in Dewey Beach could help emergency responders.
The town and Sussex County Addressing have assigned roughly 200 properties new addresses. The move is expected to clear up confusion and help first responders locate homes.
"Having the correct address, the proper address, so our computer system can recognize and map appropriately saves valuable time," said Joe Hopple, spokesman for Sussex County EMS.
The county said some condos referred to the building name, not the street name, in their address. In other cases, street numbers were erratic or duplicated.
"They tend to run out of numbers," said Megan Nehrbas, the county's project manager for 911 addressing.
The town council decided to pursue the matter earlier this year to put the town in compliance with 911 addressing. Town leaders chose to change only properties that needed corrections, rather than readdress the entire town.
Property owners will have up to one year to notify businesses of the changes; the Post Office is expected to continue delivering mail to the new and old addresses for the same period, the town said.
