The Highlands Needs You!

Do you know whom to call in a disaster?


Do you know who needs help in the neighborhood in the event of a disaster?



Would you know where your neighbor's gas shutoff was if they were not home?


These are all important questions that Kirkland as a city, and the Highlands as a neighborhood, is hoping you can answer.


At the last Highlands Association meeting, several important issues were discussed, particularly about disaster preparedness. (In an earlier post, I mentioned I would be talking about disaster preparedness a lot in this blog.) There is a lot happening to increase individual training and preparedness for a possible disaster.






Here is what was discussed at the meeting:


Brian and Patty Henry, Highlands residents, talked about their CERT training experiences. They are now equipped to help in a major disaster. They have extensive first aid training, learned how to be support.



The city is continually sponsoring CERT classes and is working hard to have CERT trained citizens all through Kirkland. If you are interested, please contact Robin Paster at the City of Kirkland. Her telephone number is 587-3659.



MYN Program. Map Your Neighborhood Program, sponsored by the Greater Kirkland Citizen Corps.


In a disaster, plan to be on your own. Police and fire departments will be overwhelmed with larger problems. Mapping the neighborhood will give all of us the knowledge to help ourselves and each other. The goal of the program is for 15-20 homes in a neighborhood to work together during a disaster. The neighborhood group will be aware of those who may need additional help: the elderly, children, and the disabled, so people can all respond effectively.



This is a critical program for all of us. Sign up for the training program, you will be so much better equipped personally and for your neighbors. We do all need to help each other.



A training session is on June 13th from 7 Pm-9 Pm at the Peter Kirk room at the base of City Hall. Please confirm the date of the class with Nancy Smersh at 587-3663 or at the email below.

www.kirklandcitizencorps.org



Also, you can contact nsmersh@ci.kirkland.wa.us.



I spoke about the MYN program because of my involvement with the Senior Council. We are hoping to identify at-risk seniors who live in neighborhoods all around Kirkland. Our goal fits with the MYN program and is a great opportunity to determine who may need help.



If you have any questions about disaster programs, materials, training, please contact me. I will be spending a lot of time during this year learning about what the Senior Council and our neighborhood needs.