City Manager Spotlight

We Will Get Through This

Throughout my profession as a city manager, I have experienced several natural disasters. The primary purpose of local government is to prepare and protect its citizens. While serving as city manager in another city, I experienced a devastating wildfire that, had it not been for the services of many fire crews, would have been tragic. The following year, due to the aftermath of the fire, we experienced significant flooding and mudslides. Neighborhoods were evacuated, and homes destroyed. Here in Washington City, we have primarily faced flash flooding and occasional power outages. Now we are facing something new, a pandemic.  Although we haven’t experienced something like this before, we approach it the same way we do with natural disasters. We try and make the best decisions with the best and most current information we have. While any disaster is occurring we never have a full picture or complete answers; we simply do the best we can. I am also confident, however, that like every other challenge you and I have faced, we will get through this, we will grow stronger, and we will be more tender and sensitive to the needs of others. Hang in there everyone, and in the words of the Beatles, “we will get by with a little help from our friends.”

-Roger Carter

City Manager

WashingtonCity.org/manager