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Welcome to the quarterly edition of the City of Kirkland’s Office of Emergency Management newsletter! Read ahead to learn more about upcoming preparedness education opportunities and hazards that might be present in your life.
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The spring CERT class is fast approaching, and there are still spots available! Join us in learning about disaster preparedness, including topics like disaster first aid, light search and rescue techniques, and fire suppression with LIVE fire.
The CERT class will be held on the following dates:
Skills Training Sessions: April 25, 27, 30, and May 2 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Drill Day: May 4 from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
To sign up, click on this link.
To learn more information about CERT, check out our CERT homepage.
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 Amy Haining and Carly Pacekonis Presenting at the Partners in Emergency Preparedness Conference
Two of our staff members, Amy Haining and Carly Pacekonis, recently presented at the Partners in Emergency Preparedness Conference in Tacoma, WA. They presented on Kirkland’s 2023 personal preparedness campaigns that were delivered both to the City of Kirkland employees and the public.
The employee campaign was a year-long educational opportunity that included questionnaires, self-preparedness activities, and in-person training to help City staff prepare for emergencies.
The “Let’s Chat” video series is about public disaster preparedness, which you can find here: Let's Chat Video Playlist
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In 2024, the OEM newsletters will include information on the anniversaries of disasters that occurred within the previous few months. You are encouraged to read these stories and review the resources provided to consider what risks might be present in your everyday life.
Nisqually Earthquake
On February 28, 2001, at 10:54 AM, a 6.8 magnitude quake rocked the region and caused significant structural damage to many buildings in the Seattle metro area.
Fortunately, there were limited injuries, despite ground shaking that lasted nearly 40 seconds. There are far more faults than just Cascadia or the Seattle Fault, so to help you learn your risk of the impacts of an earthquake, please check out this map from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to see if there is a fault (current or historical) that is hiding under your home or community.
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SR 530 Flooding and Mudslide
On March 22, 2014 at 10:37 am, along the banks of the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River in an unincorporated area of Snohomish County known as the “Steelhead Haven” community the hillside gave way causing the deadliest landslide in US History, often called the “Oso Landslide.” In less than 60 seconds, 43 people lost their lives, 10 people were injured, 36 homes were destroyed, and 1 square mile of earth was left unrecognizable. The response lasted weeks, recovery of all the deceased took four months, and the initial cleanup, restoration, and community recovery was a three-year project. Only now, ten years later, the official memorial was dedicated.
This incident demonstrated the destructive force of natural disasters. Are you aware of the landslide risk areas in Kirkland? Not all hazards can be prevented, but being aware of your risk can empower you to take actions that may save your life or that of a loved one.
Click on this link for a map of the landslide risk in the City of Kirkland.
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Notre-Dame Fire
On April 15, 2019, the Notre-Dame de Paris, a historic Catholic cathedral in Paris, France, caught fire. The fire lasted 15 hours, and while a large amount of artwork and relics were saved from the fire, there were many that suffered smoke damage or destruction.
It is well known that fires are dangerous. They can grow quickly and cause extensive damage to structures and belongings. If burned, many sentimental items cannot be replaced.
Here are things you can do to help protect your house and belongings and support your recovery in case a fire occurs:
Photo from Wikimedia Commons.
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"One of the greatest lessons life has taught me is that adaptability and preparedness are paradoxically linked. For me, preparedness is part of the armor I wear. I plan, rehearse, and do my homework ahead of anything that feels even remotely like a test."
- Michelle Obama
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