An idea before Lewis County commissioners would make sure every resident has a street address.

The idea behind the plan is to make it easier for emergency workers to quickly find the people they're called to help.

As it is now, many residents in Lewis County -- and in many other places throughout West Virginia -- have rural route addresses.

Fine for the post office, but a nightmare for police, fire or ambulance dispatchers, especially since the rural route addresses are seldom listed on mailboxes.

New street addresses would eliminate this problem. All roads would have names; and all homes would have street addresses.

The idea is a very commendable one.

Better yet, commission President Robert Conley says the cost of any mapping work would come from the 911 budget and shouldn't cost the county much money.

We hope the commission continues to work on the project, following a public hearing on the project during the commission meeting June 12.

The sooner the county can make this change, the better.

And we also hope that eventually, all West Virginians can have street or road addresses.

That step would help in economic development as well as public safety, bringing our state up to more modern standards that are common elsewhere.

And while some people may end up having to learn a new address for their mail, the positives of this step far outweigh any negatives.

Today's editorial reflects the opinion of the Exponent editorial board, which is comprised of James G. Logue, Kevin S. Courtney, Patrick M. Martin, Matt Harvey and J. Cecil Jarvis.