Blog Post

Can first responders find you? Here's why we have to change some addresses.

9-1-1 Addressing • January 8, 2020
We get it, updating or changing your address can be a hassle. You’ve had it for years or you just got acquainted with it after your move. It’s a small disruption that most people don’t want to deal with. And while it may seem like an inconvenience for you, it’s an even bigger problem for our first responders. If your address is not in compliance with the 911 addressing system, then it will need to be changed. 

Why? 

In the event of an emergency, our first responders rely on this information to effectively do their jobs. It is one of the most important pieces of information for Fire, Police, and other service entities in the protection and preservation of lives and property. GPS units are useful in getting near a location, but they are not always 100 percent accurate. How can they respond in a timely manner without the correct address? 

New address request or current address verification 

Making this small change won’t be as hard as it seems. Working in partnership with the state and local officials, ETCOG has been tapped as the primary planning and coordinating entity for emergency 9-1-1 communications in East Texas. Unfortunately, in order to follow program regulations, some addresses must be changed due to the sale of nearby property and the subsequent creation of a new 9-1-1 address. We understand this can be frustrating and apologize for any inconveniences. 

What you will need 

In order to request an address change or receive and address verification, we need the property owner to call (844) 447-6911 or visit Pineywoods911.com and fill out the form “Request or Verify Address”. Aside from general contact information, here are a few things you will need to properly fill out the form. They are: 

  • County the property is in; 
  • City nearest the property; 
  • Road property is on; 
  • Nearest Road Intersection; 
  • Direction to nearest neighbor’s driveway from property driveway (North, South, East or West); 
  • Distance from Property Driveway to Neighbor’s Driveway (in Feet); and 
  • Nearest Neighbor’s Address. 
For more information or assistance with changing your address, please visit Pineywoods911.com. 
A police officer is holding a microphone in his pocket.

Homeland Security, Criminal Justice Grant Funding Available for East Texas Public Safety Projects

By East Texas Council of Governments • December 19, 2024
State agencies, local governments, nonprofit organizations, universities or colleges, and federally recognized Native American tribes can soon apply for FY 2026 grant funds from the Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office , State Homeland Security Grant Program and Criminal Justice division. New and continuing applicants in ETCOG’s fourteen (14) county region are invited to attend FREE grant application workshops hosted by the ETCOG Public Safety division . Workshops for each grant category to be held virtually from December 18, 2024, through February 13, 2025. Grant funding will be available for the following programs: Homeland Security State Homeland Security Program – Regular Projects (SHSP-R) Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities (LETPA) Criminal Justice General Victim Assistance Direct Services Program (VOCA) Violence Against Women Justice and Training Program (VAWA) Juvenile Justice & Truancy Prevention Grant Program (SF-JJTP) Criminal Justice Program (DJ-JAG) “The goal is to improve public safety, support victims of crime, and assist jurisdictions by filling gaps in the region via funding that promotes innovative solutions to regional problems,” said ETCOG’s Public Safety Director, Stephanie Heffner. “We help applicants understand what needs to go into their grant applications and what they have to track once they receive funding from the state so we can successfully bring public safety projects to East Texas.” Workshops for Homeland Security will be held on the following dates: Wednesday, December 18, 2024 - 10:00 AM Wednesday, January 1, 2025 - 10:00 AM Wednesday, January 8, 2025 - 10:00 AM Wednesday, January 15, 2025 - 10:00 AM Wednesday, January 22, 2025 - 10:00 AM Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - 10:00 AM Wednesday, February 5, 2025 - 10:00 AM Workshops for Criminal Justice will be held on the following dates: Monday, January 7, 2025 - 2:00 PM Wednesday, January 15, 2025 - 10:00 AM Thursday, January 23, 2025 - 2:30 PM Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - 2:00 PM Workshops are mandatory if you plan to apply for funding. To participate in a virtual workshop for Homeland Security, visit www.pineywoods911.com/homeland-security . To participate in a virtual workshop for Criminal Justice, visit www.pineywoods911.com/criminal-justice .
A woman in a police uniform is standing in a park.

$3.4M in Public Safety Grants Approved for East Texas Region

By ETCOG Public Safety • December 17, 2024
The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) announces $3.4 million in grants from the Governor's Public Safety Office awarded to East Texas jurisdictions and nonprofits.
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