The City of Kirkland uses an all hazards approach to Disaster Management. Our region is susceptible to a multitude of hazards, not just 3 or 4. Taking an all hazards approach allows the City to prepare for any and all events plausible to the Pacific Northwest, strengthening our emergency readiness.
The Office of Emergency Management is the focal point for emergency management planning in the City and consists of a Director, who is also the Fire Chief; an Emergency Manager who is also the
Administrative Deputy Fire Chief ; and an
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator . Emergency Management responsibilities in the City of Kirkland extend beyond the Fire Department to all municipal government departments and staff.
Emergency Management ultimately extends to each individual citizen in the community and to every business and non-government agency within the City of Kirkland. Preparedness and response capability is a community wide responsibility and it is the City’s policy to foster that philosophy at all levels.
Disasters always feel like a localized event but the response will need to be regional. A disaster is defined when local resources are overwhelmed so it is a priority of Kirkland’s Office of Emergency Management to be involved in emergency management planning at the regional, county and state level to develop relationships and contacts to assist the City of Kirkland during a disaster.
In the event of a major disaster, resources will be coordinated by personnel from the City and other local and/or state agencies that will assist with the response and recovery efforts.
During disasters, the City will utilize an After-Hours Citizen information Line (425-587-3637) and the City's website to disseminate information pertaining to the emergency to the public.
Contact Information:
Kirkland’s Office of Emergency Management is co-located with the Fire Department’s administrative offices on the upper level of City Hall at 123 5th Ave, Kirkland, 98033.
Fire Chief J Kevin Nalder (Director of Emergency Management): knalder@kirklandwa.gov
Deputy Chief Helen Ahrens-Byington (Emergency Manager):
hahrens@kirklandwa.gov
Stephanie Day (Emergency Preparedness Coordinator):
sday@kirklandwa.gov