Interesting story on one of the local news sites about problems responders are having with not being able to find newer locations because the maps they have are out of date.

Over the last three years, Sullivan County 911 has had to update addresses throughout the county. The changes were mandated by the federal and state governments. First responders are still waiting for updated maps.

“We can’t give them the excuse we don’t know where they are,” lamented Chris Kelley, a firefighter from Dushore.

For years, Kelley has relied on maps to find someone in need. The maps are now outdated. Homes and streets have new addresses and names because the county’s 911 system was updated. The new maps are at least a week away from being printed, according to Sullivan County’s 911 Coordinator, Kim Barto. Money is a major factor in the delay, said Barto. She added it would have cost $15,000 to print the maps.

The consequences of not having the maps are even more costly, according to firefighters like Kelley.

“We need to be able to provide that care quickly. If we don’t know where we’re going, the whole chain of survival collapses,” said Kelley.