Kirkland Highlands Real Estate Buzz

If there’s a disaster in Kirkland, will you know what to do?  I wrote about the city’s  website focus on disaster preparedness in The Kirkland Reporter about a month ago.  Here’s the information from the article about the new and improved disaster preparedness component of the city website.

The city showed it is currently preparing for “the big one” –or even a “small one” — by last summer hiring Stephanie Day, a long-time city employee, to fill the position of emergency preparedness coordinator. Stephanie has worn a number of hats at the city and brings years of experience to the table.

She and Robin Paster, community education and information specialist, recently rolled out the new and improved version of the emergency preparedness link on the Kirkland city site.  Day’s first order of business has been to update the emergency preparedness link on the city Web site. There’s a lot of disaster preparedness information scattered all over the internet and it can be a daunting and a time-consuming search.
In an attempt to consolidate this information, the site will have two components: one section for before a disaster, and a second for critical information during and after a disaster.  From the city’s home page at www.ci.kirkland.wa.us, find the “Disaster Preparedness Tips” button. The black button will lead you to a great “one-stop shop” for disaster preparedness and relief information. If you’re at a loss as to how to prepare for a disaster, here’s everything you’ve wanted to know. All sorts of information can be found here, such as recommendations for assembling or purchasing a disaster preparedness kit, sheltering in place during a disaster and pet preparedness. So kick back and pour yourself a cup of coffee. Spend some time on the Kirkland Web site and get ready for a disaster. It’s never too early to be prepared, but it can be too late.

The site also includes links to the Regional Public Information Network (RPIN), Federal Emergency Management Administration, local Ham radio operators, the National Weather Service and other pertinent sites.

During my meeting with Ms. Day, I asked if she had any interesting safety tips to pass along to Kirklanders. Here’s some of what she recommended:

Keep small bills in a safe place
in case of an emergency. Imagine
spending $20 for water if all
you had was $20 bills.

Keep a wrench in a plastic bag
(to prevent rust) next to your
gas shut-off so you’ll be ready
to turn off the gas if needed.

However, don’t shut your gas
off unless you hear or smell
something. You can’t turn the
gas back on without the utility
company’s assistance — and it
could be a long wait!

Keep at least half a tank of
gas in your car at all times.

Take that heavy family heirloom
off the top shelves.

Grandma’s vase could be a
missile during an earthquake.

Bolt or strap heavy furniture
to the wall to prevent it from
toppling.

Know where your water shutoff
is located.

Have at least one corded telephone
in your home. A cordless
phone or cell phone may
not work during a disaster.

The second part of the emergency preparedness site is the new red button labeled Emergency Bulletins. This will take you to the section of the Web site specifically dedicated to information regarding actual emergency events, such as the Dec. 2-3 flooding. All information relating to a specific disaster will be consolidated in this section. During an emergency, townspeople will be able to find out where to go for shelter or whom to contact about home damage.
Here’s a final thought many of us do not think about: In a disaster, the police and fire
departments will respond to the most serious and major disasters. They don’t have the resources to take care of everyone all at once. It will be up to you as an individual to take the first step and be prepared. If you are in your home or car, you may be on your own for a few days. In a major disaster, you may need to fend for yourself
for up to a week.
This link: www.govlink.org/3days3ways/business.html, is another site that can help you prepare. So head down to your favorite coffee bar and grab that grande latte with two shots and spend some time learning what you need to do to be prepared.
It’s up to you.

Safety, disaster preparedness, working together as a neighborhood and a community, are these topics we think of very often?  We don’t because we are all so busy.  But these are all issues we need to think about.   

The Greater Kirkland Citizen Corps Council is doing a great job to help all of the neighborhoods work together through the “Mapping Your Neighborhood (MYN) Program.”  

So here’s my proposal/challenge for Kirkland Highlands’ residents:

Let’s be the first, most organized neighborhood in Kirkland. Let’s have a lots of people in the Highlands participate in the “Mapping Your Neighborhood” program.   We can complete the map of our neighborhood and be the most prepared and caring community in Kirkland.  I’ve taken the training and plan to meet with my neighbors in the spring.  Let’s organize the MYN system in the Highlands for the GKCCC.  We would know who’s a MYN coordinator in each neighborhood.  We could  help each other out.  Anyone game?  Do let me or Karen Story know about your interest and participation.

 Karen Story emailed the following message out to The Highlands email list last week in which she outlined the program and the upcoming sessions:

Map Your Neighborhood Training Sessions Feb. 28 and Mar. 15

Map Your Neighborhood (MYN) is a state program designed to help neighborhoods prepare for disasters. MYN will help you to:

Learn the “9 Steps to Take Immediately Following a Disaster” to secure your home and to protect your neighborhood.

Identify the Skills and Equipment each neighbor has that would be useful in an effective disaster response.

Create a Neighborhood Map identifying the locations of natural gas and propane tanks for quick response if needed.

Create a Contact List that helps identify those with specific needs such as elderly, disabled, or children who may be home alone during certain hours of the day.

Work together as a team to evaluate your neighborhood during the first hour following a disaster and take the necessary actions.

Each training session will teach you how to conduct MYN in your own neighborhood. All sessions are the same; please come to the session that best fits your schedule. The training will be presented by Dr. LuAn Johnson, Public Education Program Manager, Washington State Emergency Management Division, who designed the Map Your Neighborhood program.

The dates and locations of the training are as follows:

Thursday, February 28, 7:00PM, Rose Hill Building, 7720 126th Ave NE (just south of NE 80th St)

Saturday, March 15, 9:30AM, Kirkland Stake Center, 7910 NE 132nd St (corner of Juanita Drive)

For more info on MYN, visit http://www.emd.wa.gov/myn. For questions about the above sessions, contact Toby Nixon, 425-823-9779.

This was just sent out from Marie Stake, the communications program manager, at the City of Kirkland:

Safety tips for home and business owners:

Know the difference between “flood watch” and “flood warning.” 

The National Weather Service issues a flood watch when heavy rains are highly likely. 

A flood watch is typically issued 36 to 12 hours before the anticipated event. 

 A flood warning is issued when a flooding event is occurring imminent or has a high probability of occurring within 12 hours.

When a flood watch is issued, furniture and valuables should be moved to higher floors.  Vehicle gas tanks should be filled, in case an evacuation notice is issued. 

When a flood warning is issued, listen to radio and TV stations for information.

 If a flash flood occurs, move immediately to higher ground.

 Be aware that streams, drainage systems and other water ways can overflow.

    Buy sand and sandbags ahead of time.  To learn how to use sandbags, visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website at

http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/html/offices/op/em/HowToBag.htm.  

For more flood safety tips, visit www.rpin.org and select “natural hazards/floods.” This is a great website that will give you all the latest information about road closures, flooding, etc.

 The City of Kirkland has activated its 24 hour information line at 425-587-3767.  Callers will hear a pre-recorded message that provides updates on road closures within the City, safety information and phone numbers for public services. 

  To report drainage issues on private property, call the Public Works Department at 425-587-3800. 

To report road hazards and flooding in public areas, call the City’s Maintenance Center at 425-587-3900.

 Storm drains are overloaded so anything is possible!  Many of us are not in imminent danger, but some roads and intersections are flooded.  My office is located by a creek that runs into Lake Washington and the creek has overflowed its banks and flooded the parking garage!

Are you prepared to help if there is a disaster in the area?   The Red Cross is working with the City of Kirkland to help train local citizens to assist at emergency shelters.   Red Cross personnel will need volunteer assistance if there is a disaster.
Here’s when and where you can learn to help:

Saturday, December 1st

9 A.M. to 12 noon

123 5th Ave

Kirkland City Hall, City Council Chambers

For more information, contact Stephanie Day, emergency preparedness coordinator at 425-587-3630 or sday@ci.kirkland.wa.us.

The winds are back and are you ready?

So you think the police and fire will help?  Sure, if they can, but remember, they will be handling the really big crises and you may be on your own for several days.

 Here is your opportunity to be prepared to handle an emergency or disaster.  Don’t wait until it is too late.  Be ready.

Nancy Smersh, who is a member of The Greater Kirkland Citizen Corps, and works for the city, is sponsoring two classes to introduce Kirkland residents to the “MYN” program, Mapping Your Neighborhood.    

Below is Nancy’s memo advertising the next set of “MYN” classes.  I’ve been to the class.  How about someone else signing up to be the neighborhood captain for their part of The Highlands? 
 We can work on this together! 

________________________________________________________

     “MYN” - Map Your Neighborhood

            Preparing Neighborhoods

           to Care for Each Other When Disaster Strikes

The reality is - neighborhoods may need to respond to fire, injuries, and leaking natural gas during and after a disaster. This meeting will help you know what to do.

What is a disaster? Disasters, by definition, are events that overwhelm police, fire, and medical 911 emergency responders.

Why MYN? MYN helps us organize a timely response to disaster when 911 is unavailable.  All of us, working together, can reduce the serious consequences of
disaster in our neighborhood.

Why Prepare? Neighborhoods that are prepared for emergencies and disaster situations save lives, reduce the severity of injuries and trauma, and reduce property damage.  In addition, working together as a team and contributing as an individual develops stronger communities and improves the quality of life in the community.

Learn:     The 9 Steps to Take Immediately Following a Disaster

Develop:  a Neighborhood Skills and Equipment Inventory

Map your neighborhood:  identify areas of concern such
as gas meters

 Verify: which neighbors need extra help in a disaster such as the elderly, those
with a disability, or children who may be home alone.

November 8th (Thursday) Noon-1:00 or 7-8 PM

Location: Kirkland City Hall - Peter Kirk Room (around back by police dept)

 123 5th Ave

 Kirkland 98033

Sponsored by the Greater Kirkland Citizen Corps Council (GKCCC )www.kirklandcitizencorps.org

Register online at http://www.kirklandcitizencorps.org/MYN/signup.asp

Questions or to receive notification of future sessions:

Contact: Nancy Smersh

425-587-3663

NSmersh@ci.kirkland.wa.us

Winter is fast approaching.  Do you remember last year’s windstorm?  Emergencies and disasters can and do happen here.

The Highlands needs you!  Did you know in the event of a disaster, you are on your own for a few days? The police and fire departments will be busy working with the most major problems in a disaster and cannot respond to individuals.  I spoke with Robin Paster who works for Fire District 41 and she gave me some statistics to think about: 

Fire District 41 provides service to 80,000 people.  (The City of Kirkland and the areas which are to be annexed)

There are about 30 first responders available.

There are 145-50 CERT trainees in Kirkland.

One responder for every 444 people in the community!  You have a whole lot of people on their own in a disaster.

 Several programs have been developed to help prepare people for a possible disaster.  One is 3days3ways and is designed to help you, your family, and your pets have the necessary tools and supplies in the event of an emergency or a disaster.

A great program to assist with disaster preparedness is the CERT program. CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team.  Robin Paster filled me in on some of the details of the program.  As part of CERT training, you  learn how to prepare your home, car, and office with emergency supplies, identify risks and hazards, put out small fires, and assist with basic medical techniques. Everyone over the age of 18 is encouraged to participate. People under the age of 18 can participate along with a parent.  People have taken the training who have been in wheel chairs.  Robin encourages everyone to take the program. Course graduates will be equipped to deal with a disaster or emergency after taking the training.

The program is a a 7 week training course with a 3 hour class held each week.  Upon completion of the course, there’s a 6 hour weekend drill designed to help the CERT graduates use their newly found skills.     As a CERT, you can volunteer to help at special events like the Kirkland Triathalon.   The program is part of The Greater Kirkland Citizen Corps Council. The next CERT class is scheduled to start September 20th in Kirkland. Those who complete the CERT training are asked to join the Greater Kirkland Citizen Corps.

Are you a teacher?  Western Washington University will give teachers 20 hours for continuing education when they complete CERT training.

For more information, you can call 425-587-3659 or check the above link to the CERT program.