STRONGER Storm than the
Building Community Resilience Through Preparedness
LINDSEY PINKSTON Highlands Council Executive Director & Wisteria Park resident
While it may feel uncomfortable to think or talk about emergencies, the reality is that they happen—and often without warning. From natural disasters and accidents to acts of terrorism, emergencies can come in many forms.
Ignoring this truth doesn’t make it go away. In fact, it can increase the likelihood of harm and the severity of the consequences that follow. The good news? We can take meaningful steps—individually and as a community—to reduce the damage and discomfort that disasters bring, whether large or small. According to FEMA’s National Risk Index, King County faces an exceptionally high risk of natural hazards—99.7%. Our greatest vulnerabilities stem from earthquakes, landslides and volcanic activity. What does this mean for us? It means
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), serve as a Resilience Hub volunteer, or simply begin preparing at home. Whatever path you choose, I encourage you to take small steps each month to build your readiness for whatever may come.
Resident volunteers, CERT members and city staff have joined forces to keep Issaquah Highlands prepared for emergencies.
Even a basic power outage can be disruptive and uncomfortable. With a little preparation—like knowing how to stay connected to the internet, manually open your garage door, and having supplies for comfort and entertainment—you can maintain a sense of normalcy (right down to your daily cup of coffee). In the face of larger disasters, like a major earthquake, those same preparations could be life-saving. Let’s build a culture of readiness—because community resilience starts with each of us.
we must continue working together to strengthen our community’s resilience. FEMA defines community resilience as “the ability of a community to prepare for anticipated natural hazards, adapt to changing conditions, and withstand and recover rapidly from disruptions.” There are many ways to get involved. You might attend our Are You Ready? Workshop Series, join Issaquah’s
Prepared Together: Progress at the Blakely Hall Resilience Hub The Blakely Hall Resilience Hub Task Force—comprised of residents, CERT volunteers, Highlands Council staff and city employees—is actively developing an operating plan to guide emergency services at Blakely Hall. In addition to finalizing the plan, we’re currently focused on three key priorities: 1. E stablishing resilient power. We are working to have generator power available during power outages, so Blakely Hall can remain a reliable resource when it’s needed most. 2. B uilding and training a volunteer team. In an emergency, staff may not always be available, so we’re assembling a team of trained volunteers ready to assist the community at Blakely Hall. Interested in joining? Reach out to me at lindsey.p@ihcouncil.org. 3. S tocking emergency supplies. We are gradually building a supply of essential items to meet the community’s most urgent needs during a crisis. As this initiative progresses, we’ll continue to share updates on the services you can expect from the Blakely Hall Resilience Hub in an emergency. Stay tuned—and thank you for being part of a more prepared and connected community!
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COMMUNITY CONNECT | FALL 2025