U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee recently requested $300,000 in funding for emergency services equipment in the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives.

The funding requested will assist the City of Kirkland in purchasing Special Response Team Equipment: ballistic blankets, night vision goggles, breaching tools, as well as three emergency generators and regional urban search and rescue equipment.

Federal funds are justified to support the City of Kirkland’s ability to better respond to emergencies and prepare for disasters. This equipment significantly increases Kirkland’s capacity to respond to natural disasters and threats to public safety within the city and the region. The east King County and south Snohomish County regions are subject to natural threats from earthquake, windstorm, and major flooding events. Kirkland fire and police personnel are the first responders to these events. By enhancing local response capabilities to these threats, this equipment improves the safety of the hundreds of thousands of residents in Kirkland and the surrounding communities.