September 2026 Community Risk Reduction
Can We Find Your House When You Call 911?
This month I want to share something really simple that can help us during an emergency: make sure we can easily see your address from the road.
Kure Beach is a small Town and the Fire and Police Department know the streets well. But with beach cottages, vacation homes, fences, palm trees, landscaping, and cars parked along the street, house numbers aren't always as easy to find as you might think.
When we're responding to a call, we're looking for your address as we're coming down the street. The easier it is to see, the quicker we can confirm we're at the right house.
For one- and two-family homes, the NC Residential Code requires address numbers to be visible and legible from the street or road, contrast with the background, and be at least 4 inches tall. Even bigger would be better if possible.
If you have a mailbox near the road, putting your address clearly on both sides is also a huge help. It gives us a chance to identify your house as we're approaching.
We're not bringing this up because we're looking for code violations. We just want to find you as quickly as possible when you need us.
If you get a moment sometime this month, please walk out to the street and look back at your house. Can you immediately see your address? Can you see the address from down the street as you approach the home on both sides?
If your address could be a little easier to see, a few small changes can help us find you faster when you need us most, and in an emergency, those few extra seconds can matter.
Stay safe,
Ed Kennedy
Fire Chief
Kure Beach Fire Department