Preparedness Matters

One of the most important responsibilities of local government is making sure our community is ready for emergencies—whether that’s a flood, wildfire, power outage, or earthquake.

That’s why I’ve taken the time to complete FEMA’s emergency management courses for elected officials, as well as CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training. These programs give me the tools to:

✅ Understand how cities coordinate with county, state, and federal partners during a crisis

✅ Support first responders by ensuring resources are in place

✅ Help our community members prepare, respond, and recover together

Preparedness is not just about policies—it’s about showing up, getting trained, and being ready to lead when it matters most. At this year’s Association of Washington Cities Conference, I learned directly from mayors who’ve led their cities through disasters. Their experiences confirmed what I already believe: preparation saves lives, protects property, and strengthens resilience. Hearing their firsthand experiences with emergencies—and the lessons they learned—was invaluable.

As your next mayor, I’ll continue making emergency readiness a priority so Duvall can face challenges with resilience and strength.

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