The city of Kirkland has nearly 80,000 people and only 20 firefighters/EMT’s on duty at any one time. When disaster strikes, residents could be on their own for a very long time, dealing with fires, structural damage, serious injury and other difficult situations. First responders will be overwhelmed. Residents will need to depend on personal preparedness and the goodness of their neighbors.

Map Your Neighborhood facilitator training is being offered by The Greater Kirkland Citizen Corps Council and the Kirkland Office of Emergency Management from 7-9 p.m. on Oct. 9 at Fire Station 22 (6602 108th Ave. NE). All materials will be provided. At the end of the class students will be prepared to get their neighborhood organized and prepared.

The program helps residents rally their neighbors ahead of time to know what resources and skills are available in time of trouble. Maybe someone has a chain saw or a tent or a backhoe. Perhaps one is a nurse and another is a plumber. It could be important to know.

To register visit www.KirklandCERT.com.