Edmonds Awaits Word from Hekinan

Edmonds city officials are attempting to contact their counterparts in Hekinan, Japan to see how residents fared during yesterday's 8.9 earthquake.

Hekinan and Edmonds have been sister cities since 1988. Both Edmonds Mayor Mike Cooper and Edmonds Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Office Supervisor Sue Johnson, who serves on the Sister City Commission, said they've been trying to get word on the status of Hekinan.

"We are all very concerned and are in the process of contacting Hekinan to see how they are doing," Johnson said.

Hekinan is located in the south of Japan, and the earthquake was centered in the northeast of the country. Even so, the people of Edmonds are rightly worried for their Japanese friends.

"Our hearts go out to our sister city and all of Japan," Cooper said.

The Mayor added that once they find out more, his city staff will explore ways to reach out and help.

Hekinan has about 70,000 residents. Toyota runs a large assembly plant there, and the city is also home to an active harbor. Hekinan's cultural and civic assets include a cultural hall, a large regional hospital, botanical gardens, a performance hall, and parks.

Cooper said that such a devastating event serves as a reminder to make sure Edmonds residents are ready for a potential disaster. He encourages everyone in Edmonds to make sure they have an emergency kit, including a 72 hour supply of food and water. For more information please visit the FEMA website at; http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/ or http://www.ready.gov.