Medical Reserve Transport Trailers For Medical Support Created Through Grant
Stocking Trailer #1
Our dedicated Nehalem Bay Medical Reserve Corps volunteers getting our new trailer ready for use.
The Nehalem Bay Medical Reserve Corps (NBMRC) has been awarded a grant from the MRC State, Territory and Tribal Nations, Representative Organizations for Next Generation (STTRONG). This grant, funded by the American Rescue Plan of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was one of the funded projects around the country.
The NBMRC proposal outlined our rural and coastal region’s need for enhanced emergency preparedness and response to community emergencies and disasters. NBMRC has used our grant funds to purchase two Medical Reserve Corps Trailers to increase the readiness and response time by EVCNB volunteer teams. Local Medical Reserve Corps volunteers stocked the 18 x 8.5 foot trailers with a variety of consumable first aid and wound care supplies, and on-site care equipment. The two trailers will be kept stocked so that they can be immediately dispatched and transported to locations where individuals need care after an incident, healthcare support need, or natural disaster. The trailers will be transported and staffed by NBMRC. EVCNB Shelter and CERT volunteers are also being trained in protocols and procedures to support the Medical Reserve Corps trailers.
Nehalem Bay MRC, one of 17 MRC units throughout Oregon, was established in 2009 in response to severe weather storms that left Tillamook County without power or access to healthcare for more than a week.
That year it became clear that, in an emergency situation, our communities are likely to be isolated, from each other, from state and national rescue and recovery services, and will depend on the resources located within their community. Emergency Preparedness planning is key. With that in mind, NBMRC has strategically located some medical & shelter supplies in the towns of Manzanita, Nehalem, and Wheeler. With this newest STTRONG grant funding, we have been able to increase the resources available to our communities and will be able to deploy the trailers as quickly as possible to locations where care is needed.
Today the Nehalem Bay MRC is one of the divisions sponsored by the EVCNB whose mission it is to improve the health and safety of communities within Tillamook County. There are 59 public health, medical and support volunteers, mostly located in the North County who donate their time and expertise so that MRC can prepare for and respond to emergencies.
MRC units are a force multiplier for local emergency responses and responding personnel, providing support where needed. We have partners in each of the North Tillamook cities, throughout the county, at the state level and with many governmental and non-governmental emergency preparedness and emergency response entities. During the years 2020 through 2023, NBMRC contributed 9285 hours of service across the county and provided an economic value of $493,000 to Tillamook County.
If you have a healthcare background, or would like to support and be a part of the Nehalem Bay MRC, or join EVCNB in another volunteer capacity, please contact info@evcnb.org
Click HERE to view the Nehalem Bay MRC Annual report for 2023-2024
Click HERE to view the press release article about the MRC STTRONG grant award
