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Lake Sun
newsroom@lakesunonline.com
AmerenUE is encouraging dock owners to plan now for the 911 address regulation that will take effect in 2010.
The new law that requires all docks to have the nearest 911 land address posted was signed by the governor last month. The bill is similar to AmerenUE’s regulation for signage on docks.
AmerenUE requires all dock owners who are replacing or installing new permit and address signs to comply with their guidelines.
The 911 rule has received support from the Missouri State Water Patrol and other emergency response agencies who work on the water. For the Water Patrol and fire districts, the addressing will help save time when minutes count.
Water Patrol Captain Matt Walz said the addressing issue is long overdue. It is something emergency and rescue personnel have wanted but until now haven’t had an avenue to make it mandatory.
Any measure that aids in cutting the time it takes to respond to an emergency is good for Lake of the Ozarks. Reducing response time by minutes can save a life, Walz said.
It is common for lake area fire districts and the Water Patrol to respond to emergencies by water. With addressing, the different agencies will be able to coordinate locations with their counterparts on land.
Officers responding to calls often have trouble following the directions given by visitors who may not be familiar with the area and/or at night when landmarks used for directional guides can’t be seen, Walz said.
Walz said response time to several recent incidents could have been improved if 911 signs had been in place.
In those incidents, the calls came from out-of-state boaters who were not familiar with the lake and none of the nearby docks had 911 addresses.
“They couldn’t give us a good location on where they were at,” he said. “If the addresses had been on the docks they could have told us exactly where to go.”
The posting requirements for AmerenUE include displaying the permit number, street address and zip code in 3-inch block lettering of a contrasting color from the background material. The sign should be placed on the lake side of the dock in a location most visible from the cove or channel.
These requirements will not only assist those unfamiliar with their location, but will assist 911 call centers in dispatching the appropriate personnel during an emergency situation.
Additionally, AmerenUE in partnership with the Lake of the Ozarks Water Safety Council, will be distributing the safety decals for placement on signs permit/address signs for all new docks.
Lake Sun
newsroom@lakesunonline.com
AmerenUE is encouraging dock owners to plan now for the 911 address regulation that will take effect in 2010.
The new law that requires all docks to have the nearest 911 land address posted was signed by the governor last month. The bill is similar to AmerenUE’s regulation for signage on docks.
AmerenUE requires all dock owners who are replacing or installing new permit and address signs to comply with their guidelines.
The 911 rule has received support from the Missouri State Water Patrol and other emergency response agencies who work on the water. For the Water Patrol and fire districts, the addressing will help save time when minutes count.
Water Patrol Captain Matt Walz said the addressing issue is long overdue. It is something emergency and rescue personnel have wanted but until now haven’t had an avenue to make it mandatory.
Any measure that aids in cutting the time it takes to respond to an emergency is good for Lake of the Ozarks. Reducing response time by minutes can save a life, Walz said.
It is common for lake area fire districts and the Water Patrol to respond to emergencies by water. With addressing, the different agencies will be able to coordinate locations with their counterparts on land.
Officers responding to calls often have trouble following the directions given by visitors who may not be familiar with the area and/or at night when landmarks used for directional guides can’t be seen, Walz said.
Walz said response time to several recent incidents could have been improved if 911 signs had been in place.
In those incidents, the calls came from out-of-state boaters who were not familiar with the lake and none of the nearby docks had 911 addresses.
“They couldn’t give us a good location on where they were at,” he said. “If the addresses had been on the docks they could have told us exactly where to go.”
The posting requirements for AmerenUE include displaying the permit number, street address and zip code in 3-inch block lettering of a contrasting color from the background material. The sign should be placed on the lake side of the dock in a location most visible from the cove or channel.
These requirements will not only assist those unfamiliar with their location, but will assist 911 call centers in dispatching the appropriate personnel during an emergency situation.
Additionally, AmerenUE in partnership with the Lake of the Ozarks Water Safety Council, will be distributing the safety decals for placement on signs permit/address signs for all new docks.
The safety message is not mandatory but does provides an opportunity to reinforce the importance of wearing a life jacket and designating a captain when operating a watercraft.
These decals will be distributed with all new dock permits issued by AmerenUE, and are available at the Shoreline Management office located at 1028 Bagnell Dam Blvd in Lake Ozark.
If you have questions or need any additional information concerning these requirements you may contact the AmerenUE Shoreline Management Office at 573-365-9252.
For a diagram showing the proper permit and address sign layout, go to www.ameren.com/LakeOzarks/ADC_911Addresses.pdf
On the Net
You may access this information under the Lake of the Ozarks section at
www.ameren.com
