City, King County changed disaster preparedeness since 9/11 attacks
September 13, 2011
The decade since 9/11 has reshaped how Issaquah and King County leaders prepare for disasters and manage the response to emergencies.
The attacks also meant increased attention — and dollars — for emergency management efforts, although local officials said the initial focus on counterterrorism sidelined plans about other dangers, such as floods and earthquakes.
“All of the sudden there was a big focus on emergency management in general. That was good news from an emergency management perspective,” said Bret Heath, city public works operations and emergency management director. “The bad news is that it shifted from all hazards to almost strictly terrorism immediately following 9/11.”
Issaquah planners focused on more common emergencies — floods, snowstorms, windstorms and the like — in the years before the attacks.
Local leaders, citizens prepare for 9/11 commemoration
September 10, 2011
NEW — 8 a.m. Sept. 10, 2011
Issaquah residents prepared to mark 10 years since the 9/11 attacks Saturday, as local leaders utilized the anniversary to remind citizens to prepare for disasters and remain vigilant against threats.
The city, Eastside Fire & Rescue and community organizations plan to host a ceremony to commemorate the anniversary at 1 p.m. Sunday. The remembrance is scheduled to occur on the lawn at the Issaquah Community Center, 301 Rainier Blvd. S.
Issaquah Mayor Ava Frisinger is scheduled to speak at the event. The keynote speaker is Bill Lokey, a firefighter sent to New York City after 9/11 as part a special emergency services task force.
The anniversary also offered a chance for local leaders to cast a spotlight on emergency preparedness efforts.
King County reminds locals to prepare after Vancouver Island earthquake
September 9, 2011
NEW — 2:10 p.m. Sept. 9, 2011
Many King County and West Coast residents felt the earth tremble Friday afternoon as a magnitude-6.4 earthquake occurred off Vancouver Island.
The tremor struck at 12:41 p.m. at about 14 miles beneath the surface. The earthquake occurred about 170 miles west of Vancouver. Residents as far south as Seattle reported feeling the tremor.
King County Executive Dow Constantine used the earthquake as a reminder for local residents to prepare.
“Over the past 10 years, in concert with our regional partners, we have worked to build a whole-community approach to disaster planning, response and recovery,” he said in a statement. “Strong communities begin with each of us making a personal commitment to prepare, and then reaching out to our neighbors to build the networks that will be crucial when disaster strikes.”
National Preparedness Month includes earthquake drill
August 30, 2011
September is National Preparedness Month, and Washington officials plan a statewide earthquake drill to help residents prepare for a natural disaster.
The statewide drop, cover and hold earthquake drill is at 10:15 a.m. Sept. 21. The monthly test of the Emergency Alert System marks the start of the drill.
“Citizens, companies and government agencies should review their individual preparedness plans, contact information and emergency kits, and need to prepare themselves to be self-sufficient for a minimum of three days following an act of terrorism, natural or manmade disasters,” Gov. Chris Gregoire said in a special proclamation.
Sept. 21 also includes a Tsunami Warning Communication System test in coastal Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor and Pacific counties.
National Preparedness Month includes earthquake drill
August 29, 2011
NEW — 6 a.m. Aug. 29, 2011
September is National Preparedness Month, and Washington officials plan a statewide earthquake drill to help residents prepare for a natural disaster.
The statewide drop, cover and hold earthquake drill is 10:15 a.m. Sept. 21. The monthly test of the Emergency Alert System marks the start of the drill.
“Citizens, companies and government agencies should review their individual preparedness plans, contact information, and emergency kits and need to prepare themselves to be self-sufficient for a minimum of three days following an act of terrorism, natural or manmade disasters,” Gov. Chris Gregoire said in a special proclamation.
Habitat for Humanity to dedicate Issaquah homes
August 23, 2011
Join Habitat for Humanity of East King County — plus the Cornejo, Larson, Mateas and Riziki families — to dedicate the Magnolia Village community in the Issaquah Highlands.
Habitat leaders planned a ceremony and a community potluck meal for 3 p.m. Aug. 27 at the home sites, 2516 N.E. Magnolia St. Participants can bring a dish to share.
In order to receive the keys to the homes, the families completed 500 hours of sweat equity — some completed almost 700 hours — and completed homebuyer education. The training includes lessons in budgeting, credit repair, disaster preparedness, community governance and homeowner association, intercultural communications and diversity training, “green” living, and home repair and maintenance.
Contact Emily Fortman, Habitat director of family services, at efortman@habitatekc.org or 869-6007, ext. 237, for more information.
Construction on Magnolia Village started in June 2009.
State seeks adults to aid conservation projects
August 16, 2011
The state Department of Ecology needs 245 people between the ages of 18 and 25 to plant native shrubs and trees, restore salmon-bearing streams, respond to emergencies and more.
The agency is seeking applicants to the Washington Conservation Corps, a program to put young adults, including military veterans, on the job at projects in 16 counties statewide.
For the 2011-12 service year, the Department of Ecology intends to hire 150 Washington Conservation Corps AmeriCorps members using a $2 million AmeriCorps grant from the state Commission for National and Community Service.
No. 3 official at City Hall, Joe Meneghini, to retire
August 9, 2011
Joe Meneghini
Joe Meneghini, the No. 3 official at City Hall and a behind-the-scenes force in almost every important municipal project for more than a decade, intends to retire after 11 years in the post.
Meneghini is the deputy to City Administrator Bob Harrison. The administrators and Mayor Ava Frisinger oversee all municipal departments, cross-departmental projects, communications and economic development.
Often operating far from the spotlight, Meneghini left indelible imprints on creek restoration and open space preservation efforts, programs to meld technology to city services, and prepare City Hall and residents for emergencies.
The deputy administrator also acted as a key player in the effort to create a downtown park along Issaquah Creek and to bring a Bellevue College campus to Issaquah.
“I think a key thing has been our ability to stay focused and grounded on doing all of our basic business well,” he said.
Meet local police during National Night Out
July 26, 2011
Local residents have two events to choose from to mark National Night Out Against Crime on Aug. 2.
The Issaquah Police Department will host the city’s annual happening on the steps of Issaquah City Hall.
Issaquah Police Sgt. Scott Trial said city officers used to visit neighborhood Night Out events, such as block parties and so on, but more recently began putting together a more unified event.
Entrepreneurs can attend emergency preparedness workshop
July 7, 2011
NEW — 6 a.m. July 7, 2011
Issaquah entrepreneurs can learn how to create a business survival plan in case of a natural disaster or other emergency July 12.
The emergency preparedness workshop is part of the “Open for Business” program. The workshop is designed to provide tools to small to mid-sized businesses to create a comprehensive business survival plan.
The workshop features several speakers, including a business continuity manager from the University of Washington, as well as a risk manager from Liberty Mutual.
The event is 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. July 12 in the Council Chambers at Shoreline City Hall, 17500 Midvale Ave. N. RSVP to Jill Rucker, AmeriCorps VISTA emergency management program assistant, at jrucker@shorelinewa.gov.
