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Kittitas (pronounced 'KITT-i-tass') County is located in central Washington State. It spans from the lush forested Cascade Mountains to the upper Yakima River Valley plains and the Columbia River.
Kittitas County, WA - 12/28/2022 - The Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) celebrates the inclusion of $1,186,120 in the recently passed federal Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill for a new search and rescue/emergency operations center in Kittitas County.
The funding is a direct result of support from Representative Kim Schrier (WA-8) who requested funding be included for the project through the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the Department of Homeland Security portion of the legislative package. The new facility has been under design for the past several months. The BOCC is hoping to complete design of the project in the first quarter of 2023 allowing for a summer construction season start. The facility is expected to be complete in late summer of 2024. The BOCC identified the need for a new search and rescue and emergency operations center after it was reported an estimated 80% of search and rescue calls occur on the west end of the County. Commissioner Osiadacz stated, “This facility first became a vision for the BOCC after talking with community members as well as the Sheriff’s office about the need to bring additional services to the Upper County area. We hope this will help address some of the ever-growing needs we are facing for both emergency management as well as search and rescue.” Sheriff Myers stated, “We appreciate the support of our commissioners, our community, and FEMA for this important piece of public safety infrastructure. It will enhance Kittitas County’s ability to mount coordinated and efficient responses in Search and Rescue operations and in all types of disasters and emergencies. This facility will contribute significantly to the safety and resilience of our community.”
Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us
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Contact: Laura OsiadaczKittitas County Board of Commissioners, Chairlaura.osiadacz@co.kittitas.wa.us