We have no alternative, we must re-address U.S. 27

There's no doubt that re-numbering addresses along U.S. 27 is a nightmare for most businesses and people living along the busy highway. There's also no doubt we must do it - immediately. Our emergency responders are put in a terrible situation the way things are and someone's going to die as a result.

Emergency leaders went before the Highlands County Commission this week explaining the problem. U.S. 27, from north of Avon Park to Venus, is a series of north and south addresses. At least one mobile home park's entrance road doesn't have a name and other addresses are incorrectly listed to be on U.S. 27. It's a mess.

This is not easy to fix. Businesses that have their addresses on stationary, business cards, forms, signs, Web sites and just about everywhere else imaginable, will be forced to change all of that. Even private individuals will face some of the same problems. But there is no alternative.

Emergency personnel must be able to locate addresses immediately. They do not have time to cruise around looking for nonexistent addresses. They need a foolproof way to locate these sites. There's only one way to do that and it means starting over.

Plenty of examples exist around Florida how to do this. Not addressing businesses and homes "north" or "south" U.S. 27 will help. Each place needs its own unique number.

It's ridiculous that it has come to this. The amount of pain a change like this causes is huge, but there is no alternative. It's not acceptable to have ambulance and fire trucks not knowing where they are going. This might not seem like a big deal until you or your family are the ones needing these services.

We must move quickly to make these changes. Now's the time, so despite the anger, let's move forward and get it done right and solve this problem forever.