CRESWELL — If Creswell is known as “The place to be” on the Fourth of July, then its airport should also be known as “The place to be” in the event of a natural disaster.
The Oregon Disaster Airlift Response Team (ODART) recently received a $15,000 grant from the Oregon Lions Club and Home Depot to prepare emergency kits for distribution in the event of a disaster.
On Friday, Aug. 16, Jim Origliosso, a pilot with ODART, and Reilly Newman, a chairperson with Oregon Lions Club, dropped off supplies at the Creswell Hobby Field Airport, where they will be stored. Creswell Airport is also a designated Emergency Operations Command Center in the event of a natural disaster.
ODART is a nonprofit entity made up of volunteer pilots, ground crews, communications, and logistics personnel with qualifications to participate in emergency response. The Oregon Lions District 36-R Disaster Preparedness Project (DPP) is designed to create a first responder program to provide immediate supplies and resources for victims of a natural disaster, such as an earthquake, flood, fire, and storms.
With the grant, volunteers assembled 300 emergency kits, which will be warehoused between two airport locations in Creswell and Albany. In the event of a disaster, ODART is prepared to move supplies to areas that are further away and not accessible by ground roots.
The DPP team will meet at the airport warehouse to verify the best delivery method for the kits. Teams will meet with local Lions at designated disaster areas, and if ODART is the best delivery method, airlifts will get involved as needed. They will then determine the best place to set up a canopy to hand out kits.
Each kit consists of a five gallon Home Depot bucket with leak-proof lid; drinking water; toilet paper; hand sanitizer; medical supplies; and survival gear like ponchos and survival blankets; as well as activity books for children.
