When the Planes Flew In: NBMRC and EVCNB Join a Full-Scale Evacuation Assembly Point Exercise at Tillamook Airport
Over two scorching days in June, our Medical Reserve Corps and Communications volunteers helped stand up a full mass-care shelter, communicated with arriving aircraft, and watched supplies fly in and out by plane — all part of a major regional exercise testing how our region would respond in an emergency or disaster setting.
On June 13 and 14, the Nehalem Bay Medical Reserve Corps (NBMRC) and EVCNB Communications volunteers took part in Able Readiness 8, a full-scale emergency preparedness exercise held at the Tillamook Airport. Hosted by Oregon's Office of Resilience and Emergency Management (OREM) alongside the Oregon Health Authority and Tillamook County, the exercise put our region's disaster response to a realistic, large-scale test.
Building a shelter from the ground up
The scenario imagined the kind of event our coast knows it must prepare for — flooding, landslides, wildfire, or a major earthquake and tsunami — and the need to quickly stand up an Evacuation Assembly Point. Volunteers and partners emptied OREM's pre-staged supply containers and built a complete mass-care shelter on site, with tents for dining, sleeping, communications, registration, and medical care. Tillamook based Civil Air Patrol was instrumental in helping set up and take down the full shelter structure both days.
What made this exercise especially memorable was the airlift. Working with the Oregon Disaster Airlift Response Team (ODART), aircraft flew in carrying food for the Oregon Food Bank, then loaded up eight shelter units to fly on to Albany for their exercise — a vivid demonstration of how supplies and people could be moved in and out of an isolated community when roads are impassable.
Talking to the sky
One of the NBMRC's two medical surge trailers served as the exercise's communications command post, equipped with GMRS and HAM radio, Starlink, and radios tuned to aircraft frequencies. With orientation from Lt. Col. Deb Maynard of the Tillamook County Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, our volunteers had the opportunity to communicate directly with inbound and outbound aircraft — a real boost to our ability to participate in monitoring and/or help coordinate an air response when it counts.
Beating the heat
The biggest challenge of the weekend wasn't part of the script: it was the weather. Temperatures climbed into the 90s both days, and at one point the pavement reportedly read 130 degrees. With heat the top safety concern, the team kept a close watch on everyone — circulating constantly with cold drinks and cooling neck cloths, encouraging steady hydration, and sharing simple, practical reminders about the warning signs of heat stress.
Three NBMRC members staffed a first-aid station on one of the exercise days; caring for six participants — most simply needing a chance to rest, cool down, and rehydrate, with one stopping by for a quick bandage. It was exactly the kind of quiet, attentive care that keeps a long, hot operation running safely.
Stronger together
Exercises like this are where preparedness becomes real. Our thanks go to the NBMRC and EVCNB Communications volunteers who showed up in the heat — Velda Handler, RN, NBMRC Coordinator, Christi Sheppard, RN, NBMRC, Latisha Fernandez, NBMRC Support, John Handler, EVCNB & NBMRC Support, and Michael Krutsch, EVCNB Communications — and to our many partners, including OREM, OHA, Tillamook County Emergency Management, the Civil Air Patrol, and the Oregon Food Bank. Every drill like this makes our communities a little more ready for the day we hope never comes. These supplies are available for various emergency needs; ie: Flooding, wildfires, isolated communities, earthquake, tsunami, etc. These caches of equipment and supplies are key to our preparedness and resilience in whatever may come!!
Please reach out to your local Emergency Preparedness group - These groups are active in communities countywide. We would LOVE to have you Join Us!!
“Be Prepared, Not Scared!”
Contact info@evcnb orrandy.thorpe@tillamookcounty.com for more information.
