[To Samantha Pak] I enjoyed your Windows and Mirrors story in the Dec. 28 issue of the Kirkland Reporter. Sorry for the tree that came down at your apartment building, but kudos to finally meeting your great neighbors.

As the volunteer coordinator for the city of Kirkland’s Map Your Neighborhood (MYN) program, I had to smile while I was reading your article. This is what the MYN program is all about! It’s about getting to know your neighbors before a disaster and learning how you would respond together to save lives and minimize property damage. It’s about making neighborhoods more resilient following a disaster.

As you witnessed, disasters bring out the best in people. But consider if that tree had had a more direct impact on your building and your neighbors. Wouldn’t it have been good to know your neighbors, including who might be most vulnerable such as the elderly or children?

I commend your personal challenge to “reach out to those around you.”

I challenge all the readers to do the same.

Consider doing it via a wonderful program called Map Your Neighborhood.

Check out the city of Kirkland website under “Emergency Preparedness” for details.

Susan Vossler

Kirkland