 |
A Message from OEM
The City of Kirkland activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on February 29th in response to the first reported United States fatality from COVID-19 occurring in Kirkland. It's been just over 5 months since then, and in that time the virus has tragically claimed over 159,000 American lives and dramatically changed our way of life. So this month, in an effort to get you the most information possible, we have changed up the newsletter a bit as well. Flexible and Adaptable, that is the OEM motto for 2020!
COVID Comes to the USA
 Last week Kirkland Emergency Manager Heather Kelly joined Eric Holdeman as a guest on his Disaster Zone Podcast to reflect on being among the first American cities to begin responding to COVID-19. Listen here!
 Fire Ballot Measure
The City Council has placed a Fire and Emergency Medical Services property tax levy on the ballot this November. This measure will fund several key investments:
- Replenish and stockpile personal protective equipment (PPE) for first responders.
- Hire 20 additional Firefighters/Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).
- Build a new Fire Station 27 in Totem Lake, giving Kirkland two stations east of I-405 to be able to respond during emergencies that may collapse parts of the freeway and improving emergency response times to the Kingsgate and Totem Lake Neighborhoods.
- Provide seismic renovations of Stations 21 at Forbes Creek, Station 22 in Houghton, and Station 26 in Rose Hill to improve Firefighter/EMT health and safety and ensure response after an earthquake.
Please visit the Ballot Measure webpage to learn more about this upcoming measure.
If you have any questions about the ballot measure, please contact Project Manager Andreana Campbell at (425) 587-3013 or ACampbell@kirklandwa.gov.
Kirkland Community Survey
The City has launched its online biennial Community Survey to gauge community attitudes about the quality of life in Kirkland, satisfaction with City government services, and priorities for the future. We're hoping to get robust participation in this survey from all Kirklanders.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey. Then, share it with others. The survey will close at noon on Friday, August 7, 2020. You can learn more about the Biennial Kirkland Community Survey here.
Fill the Boot for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)
 For 66 years, when not fighting fires, members of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) have been fighting another ongoing threat - muscular dystrophy. Normally Kirkland IAFF members take part in a Fill the Boot drive in person, however the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected their efforts to help Fill the Boot for the MDA.
You can help virtually Fill the Boot to help people in our community and support innovative research to change the future for people with neuromuscular disease. Learn more and donate here. Thank you for your support!
|
Quote of the Quarter
“Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less." - Marie Curie
|
Contact Us
Email:
KirklandEM@kirklandwa.gov
Phone:
(425) 587-3691
|
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
