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Safety and Security

Everyone in the Floating Homes Community can play a vital role in keeping our community safe and secure. The FHA Safety and Security Committee, chaired by volunteers Tiff McNamara and Giff Jones, ensure strong relationships between the FHA and the local police and fire departments. This committee also oversees Dockwatch, the FHA tool for tracking and keeping our members informed of crime around Lake Union and Portage Bay.

The Floating Homes Association offers the following suggestions for making your floating neighborhood a safe and peaceful place:

  • Get to know your neighbors. When we build strong relationships with our neighbors and stay informed of activities going on around us, we are more attuned when things may not seem quite right and we can take action that might keep a person and/or their property out of harm's way.
  • Report suspicious activities right away to the police, to your dockmates and to the FHA Dockwatch.
  • Use Dockwatch: Become a member of Dockwatch and stay informed of recent crime trends; also report any criminal activity on the Dockwatch website.
  • Keep emergency numbers handy. The FHA has put together an Emergency Contacts Web Page of important numbers and websites. Please print this out and keep it near your phone and computer.
  • Learn important methods for preventing crime by visiting Seattle's crime prevention website: http://www.cityofseattle.net/police/prevention/default.htm
  • Prepare yourself for natural disasters: Recent storms and earthquakes remind us that no one is immune from Mother Nature. Here are two documents to help you be prepared:

    Review the Power Point on Personal and Neighborhood Preparedness presented at the 2007 FHA annual meeting by Debbie Goetz from The Seattle Office of Emergency Management.

    Print out the Seattle Neighborhood Preparedness Program (SNAP) Brochure.

  • Volunteer to reduce crime. If you'd like to play a more intricate role in ensuring the safety and security of our floating homes community, please consider joining the FHA Safety and Security committee by sending email to: dockwatch@seattlefloatinghomes.org.

The FHA Safety & Security Committee holds a permanent seat on the Seattle Police Harbor Patrol Advisory Council, which in addition to the FHA, consists of law enforcement, USCG, shoreline businesses, and waterfront interests such as Kenmore Air and Argosy Tours. The Council meets bimonthly to discuss issues and solutions common to member interests.  We are occasionally joined by Seattle Fire Department representatives.  Council updates of interest to houseboaters will be posted in this space after every meeting.

Report

Update

03/22/2009

Dock Watch, Fuel Dock Explosion, Fireboat Changed

Dock Watch

By Tiff McNamara

Have you gotten a Dock Watch email lately?  One was sent on 02-28-09, for example.  If you did not get it you may need to sign up for the email distribution list service.  We don't want to lose you so please opt in at the Dockwatch Subscription page.

Contact Tiff McNamara at tiffmcnamra1@aim.com with any questions or concerns.

A Close Call

By Giff Jones

A 30' pleasure boat exploded during refueling at the North Star Marine Fuel Dock on Lake Union Saturday, Feb 28.  The burning boat had been cast away from the dock so SFD Fire-fighters were helpless as the inferno drifted southward then contacted and damaged a 64' motor yacht at adjacent Diamond Marina. Two Seattle Harbor Patrol boats responded within minutes, applying foam to the blaze and later towing the wreckage to their dock across the canal.  Two persons were injured.  The accident allegedly occurred from gasoline vapors not vented before starting the engine(s).

Fisherman's Terminal Fireboat Changed

By Giff Jones

When: Thursday, February 5th, 2009

Where: Fisherman's Terminal Fire Station #3

What: "The veteran fireboat Chief Seattle has replaced the Alki at Fisherman's Terminal Fire Station #3. The Chief will not be staffed but will otherwise be at the ready. As before, the full alarm fire fighting team will travel by land from Station #5 on Elliott Bay. Depending on traffic this drive takes approximately 12 minutes."

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Past Reports: Security and Safety Committee

 

Public Safety and marine-related information:

 

SPD

Harbor Unit Home Page
 
Harbor Unit Summer Safety Tips
     
SFD   Seattle Fire Dept Home Page
    Seattle Fire Dept Marine Program
    Seattle Fire Dept Marine Photo Gallery
     
BOATOWNERS   SFD Fire Prevention
    SPD Harbor Unit Boating Safety Tips
     
WATER SPORTS   Seattle City Park Reserves Rule
    SPD Harbor Unit Water Safety Tips
     
MARINAS   SFD Marina Fire Safety
     

 

Email us at:

safetysecurity@seattlefloatinghomes.org