On Saturday, June 14th, 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮’s (𝗕𝗟𝗥) 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 (𝗢𝗘𝗦) conducted a disaster response exercise with 𝗢𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗶𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 (𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗧) and McKinleyville 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 (𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗧). Emergency Manager 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗕𝗼𝗴𝗮𝗿 and OES Outreach Coordinator 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗶𝘀 participated in this response exercise to better understand the logistics of having supplies delivered from Oregon via airlift to Humboldt County in the event of a major disaster event.
“How many times on a good day is Highway 299 cut off, or Highway 36 cut off, not even in a disaster?” 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗕𝗼𝗴𝗮𝗿 asked. We face a unique set of challenges in our area, with one of the major challenges being the vulnerability of our highway systems. Here at 𝗕𝗟𝗥 we plan for these events to be prepared for any situation that could arise in the future.
𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗳 𝗩𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁, Team Leader of McKinleyville 𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗧, coordinated the Ham Radio communication with the responding organization as they were on route. This was to ensure that in the case of a real emergency like this, coordination would be possible without cell phone communication.
𝗖𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗻, an experienced volunteer pilot of 𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗧, flew into ACV around 12:00PM, and within an hour, our 𝗢𝗘𝗦 team was able to offload 400 pounds of food and water. For this exercise, we donated the supplies that were received to our Elders Food Program and community partners, and we are now establishing what kind of distribution network we would need to get these supplies to people in the most efficient manner.
Originally Published: 6/17/2025