What do the X's with numbers mean that are painted on houses and driveways?
Its on our driveway and we were not in the damaged area.

rescue workers do that to show they have searched a house. I am not exactly sure of how it runs, but I know one number is if they found any dead and they initial who searched it. the more 0's the better right?

On the left, the initials of the inspecting group. At the bottom, the number of dead found; usually that was a "0", meaning none. The letters in the right side of the cross still remain a mystery.

From Katrina info:

On the top was the date the searchers had checked the building. On the left was the organization the performed the search. On the right, a code for the contamination found inside the building. And on the bottom, a grisly reminder of how many bodies had been found at the site. Most of the homes in the city still bear these X's.

Found a little more:

Mark Searched Areas. Marking searched areas prevents duplication of efforts and identifies where rescuers are and have been. Make a single diagonal slash on or next to the door just before entering. Make an opposite slash (creating an "X") when all occupants have been removed and the search of that area is finished (as shown on the left side of Figure V-7 below). As shown on the right side of Figure V-7, the four quadrants of the "X" can be used to indicate the initials of the searcher (left quadrant), the time/date of the search (top quadrant), personal hazards (right quadrant), and number of victims still inside (bottom quadrant). Use a zero if no victims are found. Put a box around the "X" if it is not safe to conduct search and rescue efforts in the room or building

thanks shopdaddy, couldnt figure it all out

Hard to figure out the "NE" in the picture above unless it means No Electricity (?). I've looked thru several search & rescue websites and I can't find a legend for the right quad. One New Orleans site said it represented how many dead "pets" were found. I guess someone might have used that logic. I am more apt to believe that it has to do with hazards found, though.

I read that they wrote that off to the far right about dead pets

Far right quadrant is for any dangers or hazards that exist in the structure. Gas/electric/old well/unstable structure/water leak....

when I said far right I meant not even in the X. pets are off to the far right from the X.

So what would the "NE" mean then? Natural (gas) and electricity? I cant see how Not having electricity would be a hazard. I guess it could mean "none exist" as in hazards. I dunno.