[jig]

I noticed a lot of pics of houses have 3 x's on them. What does that mean? They put them on the piling, so I thought it meant maybe that the piling was not safe, but then I noticed that they never put any on more than one piling. Some are red, some are black or grey. Does this mean the house is condemned and must come down?

BTW, thanks to everyone who posts the pics.

 

[Bayscout22]

I saw that too. I assumed it meant that the structure had been cleared, or thoroughly searched.

 

[Pubguy]

My understanding is the three Xs means unsafe to inhabit.

 

[fishnlab]

video rental?

 

[mini me]

I believe they put an X each time it is check and I believe they check them 3 times, by 3 different groups at different times.

 

[speckledred]

Pubguy is right on the money. 3 x's means unsafe for habitation.

 

[FAT TIRE]

The x is painted on by the Search and Rescue team. The 4 quads of the x have information such as date and time entered, name of the team searching, how many bodies found, and any hazards future teams or clean up crews should be aware of.

 

[Captain Kyle]

video rental?

HAHA :rotfl:

 

[TXDRAKE]

Fat Tire is correct. We use them to mark a structure that we have searched. Sometimes local Fire/Rescue teams use their own marking system and thats probably why their were three x's. The sytem is called the "FEMA or US&R Marking system". Here is how the system is used. This is the basic system but their are other markings that we commonly use. Again, some departments have and or use their own systems and may be different than the more commonly used system.

In the United States, markings on searched structures are used on the fronts of structures and are standardized as follows:

• A single diagonal slash indicates that a search in the building is in progress. This is used to indicate searcher locations and to avoid duplication of the search effort.
• An X inside a square means "Dangerous - Do Not Enter!"
• An X with writing around it means "Search Completed", with the time (and the date if appropriate) written above the X, the team conducting the search written to the left side of the X, the results of the search (number of victims removed, number of dead, type of search such as primary or secondary) written below the X, and any additional information noted about the structure to the right of the X.
• An arrow drawn next to the X tells you the direction of safe entry with a note telling of safe entrance location.
• If an "HM" is drawn next to the marking or in the right hand side of the X it indicates a Hazardous Material is involved in the structure.