Kirkland Emergency Management Update

A Message from OEM

We have certainly been feeling grateful for slightly cooler weather over the last couple of weeks after that historic heat wave. Hopefully the rest of the summer won't be quite so hot, but we thought this would be a good time to brush up on some hot weather safety.

Many of our community members love using beautiful Lake Washington to cool off in the summer, but if swimmers and boaters aren't careful it can get dangerous, even deadly.

Here are some safe swimming and boating tips to help you beat the heat and stay safe this summer:

1. Don't swim or boat alone, always bring a friend.
2. Know your limitations and stay within them.
3. Never swim or boat after consuming alcohol. Alcohol affects your body's ability to maintain its core temperature, which can lead to quick onset hypothermia.
4. Wear your life jacket! Whether you're swimming in deeper water or having fun on a boat, a life jacket is one of the best ways to prevent accidental drowning. 
5. Remember that shivering is an early symptom of hypothermia! If you or a friend starts shivering, get out of the water. Cold water makes your blood vessels constrict quickly, which can lead to dangerous, hard to manage muscle cramps.
6. Remember that while it might be hot outside, just 5-6 feet below the surface of the lake water temperatures are only about 50°F.

 For more information on hot weather safety, visit Kirkland's Extreme Heat Preparedness webpage.

City Hall is Re-Opening

Needless to say, it's been one strange and difficult year. It's been very quiet at the OEM office at City Hall, with many City staff working from home and the building closed to the public.

However, Kirkland City Hall will resume in-person services on Monday, August 2, 2021. Many services will still be available via phone, email, and online. Learn more here.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

We are so excited to share that our CERT program is finally returning after a COVID hiatus! OEM has truly missed the opportunity to train community members.

If you feel like you may need a refresher on your CERT skills, you're in luck! OEM is planning a CERT rodeo coming in the Fall of 2021! Stay tuned for a date, time, and details.

If you haven't taken CERT, we are planning a full re-launch of the training begnning in the Spring of 2022. Our hope is to offer classes in multiple formats so more community members can make time for this awesome training opportunity!

As always, we will share our full schedule and registration details via this newsletter, and you can always check out the Kirkland CERT website!

Emergency Communications

Kirkland Emergency Communications Team (KECT)

If you're interested in amateur radio and emergency communications, now is a great time to get involved with the KECT! OEM is planning an exciting exercise for the Team this Fall, and KECT will also be involved in the Cascadia Rising Earthquake Exercise coming up in June of 2022. You can learn more on the KECT website.

Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network (PSERN)

The PSERN project is hiring temporary positions to test the new public safety radio network! PSERN is seeking Audio Quality Testers and Drivers to travel throughout King County to conduct testing.

These positions are available immediately (July) - October 2021 and operate Monday – Friday in 8-hour shifts (morning/6:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. OR evening/3:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.). The hourly rate is approximately $20/hour.

Audio Testers

• Ability to sit in a moving or stationary vehicle for up to 8 hours
• Possess sufficient hearing acuity to judge 2-way radio transmission quality and be able to enunciate clearly as directed by the system’s vendor

Drivers

• Ability to drive a 7-passenger van over an 8-hour shift
• Possess a valid Washington State driver’s license and have a good driving record with no restrictions
• Ability to follow specific directions and routes, as directed, slowly and highway speeds
• Ability to drive in tight city areas, all weather conditions, and at night 

To apply, please contact the AppleOne Hiring Managers: Bob Morris, 206-441-3837/ bmorris@appleone.com OR Paul Gasser, 206-441-3837/pgasser@appleone.com.

National Weather Service Messaging Survey

Not sure what the difference is between a weather condition "watch" versus an "advisory" or "warning"? You're not alone.

The National Weather Service (NWS) currently uses these terms in its headlines when threatenining weather may occur, but they are looking to update their language to be easier to understand. That's where you come in!

Please take this short NWS Plain Language Messaging Survey to provide feedback on how the NWS should structure their updated weather headlines.

Quote of the Quarter

“Remember; when disaster strikes, the time to prepare has passed. - Steven Cyros

Contact Us

Email:
KirklandEM@kirklandwa.gov

Phone:
(425) 587-3691