​TRIBAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN​

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​TRIBAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN​

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​2026 UPDATE​

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​BEAR RIVER BAND OF THE ROHNERVILLE​

​RANCHERIA​

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​PREPARED FOR PUBLIC REVIEW​

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​Prepared by the Office of Emergency Services​

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​Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria • 266 Keisner Road, Loleta, CA 95551​

​​ ​Original Plan Adopted February 18, 2021 (Resolution No. 21-11) • FEMA Region IX Approved March 30,​

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​2022​

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​This update prepared pursuant to 44 CFR § 201.7 and the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000​

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​PLAN OVERVIEW​

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​Detail​

​Tribal Jurisdiction​

​ ear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria (BRB), a federally recognized​

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​sovereign Tribal nation​

​Plan Type​

​Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — Five-Year Update (44 CFR § 201.7)​

​Prior Plan​

​ dopted February 18, 2021 (Resolution No. 21-11); revised October 2021 and​

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​January 2022; FEMA approved March 30, 2022​

​Planning Period​

​2026–2031​

​Point of Contact​

​Amanda Gonzales, Office of Emergency Services Manager​

​Plan Support​

​Nicholas Anderson, Office of Emergency Services Logistics Coordinator​

​Address​

​266 Keisner Road, Loleta, CA 95551​

​Guiding Philosophy​

​“Healing the land heals the people.”​

​Community Pillars​

​Quality of Life • Self-Sufficiency • Sustainability • Cultural Awareness​

​Disaster History​

​Plan Status​

​2026 Tribal THIRA; 2025 SPR; BRB Emergency Operations Plan (July 2025)​

​ EMA-4692-DR (December 20, 2022 M6.4 earthquake); December​

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​earthquake trilogy 2021, 2022, 2024​

​ onsolidated working draft for public review; placeholders marked in red​

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​pending completion​

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​Companion Documents​

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​TABLE OF CONTENTS​

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​15​​PLAN OVERVIEW​

​16​​TABLE OF CONTENTS​

​17​​EXECUTIVE SUMMARY​

​18​​PART ONE: INTRODUCTION​

​ .1 Purpose and Background​

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​1.2 Regulatory Basis​

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​1.3 FEMA Mitigation Grant Programs​

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​1.4 Tribal Mitigation Vision and Mission​

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​Mitigation Vision​

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​Mitigation Mission​

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​1.5 The Four Community Pillars​

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​1.6 Plan Goals​

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​1.7 Plan Organization​

​28​​PART TWO: PLANNING PROCESS​

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​2.1 Description of the Planning Process​

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​2.2 Public Participation​

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​Hazards Experienced by the Community​

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​Critical Facilities and Infrastructure Priorities​

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​What We Heard: Locations, Suggestions, and Readiness​

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​2.3 Stakeholder and Intergovernmental Coordination​

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​2.4 Integration with THIRA, SPR, and Other Tribal Planning​

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​2.5 Review and Incorporation of Existing Plans, Studies, and Reports​

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​2.6 Government-to-Government Relationship​

​38​​PART THREE: COMMUNITY AND LAND PROFILE​

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​3.1 Overview​

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​3.2 History and Connection to Land​

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​The 1860 Coordinated Massacres and Aftermath​

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​The Indian Boarding School Era​

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​The 1958 Termination and the Tillie Hardwick Lawsuit​

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​The Salmon Ceremony — Cultural Restoration and Ecological Stewardship​

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​3.3 Governance​

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​3.4 Tribal Lands​

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​3.5 Population and Vulnerable Populations​

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​3.6 Critical Facilities​

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​3.7 Transportation and Access​

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​3.8 Water Systems and Fire Protection Infrastructure​

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​3.8.1 Tish Non Water System and February 2026 Hydrant Flow Test​

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​3.8.2 Resort Reclaimed Water System​

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​3.9 Public Safety Services​

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​ .9.1 Law Enforcement​

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​3.9.2 Fire Protection​

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​3.10 Emergency Operations and Alerting​

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​3.11 Cultural Resources​

​58​​PART FOUR: RISK ASSESSMENT​

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​4.1 Methodology​

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​4.2 Climate Change as a Force Multiplier​

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​4.3 Hazard Summary and Priority Rankings​

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​4.4 Earthquake​

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​Hazard Profile — Type, Location, Extent​

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​Previous Occurrences — The December Trilogy​

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​Probability, Impacts, and Vulnerability​

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​4.5 Pandemic / Public Health Emergency​

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​4.6 Fire and Wildfire​

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​Hazard Profile​

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​Regional Wildfire History​

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​Fire Flow Baseline​

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​4.7 Flooding (Localized and Riverine)​

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​Hazard Profile​

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​4.8 Severe Weather and Climate Change​

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​4.9 Drought and Water Shortage​

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​4.10 Tsunami and Coastal Hazards​

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​4.11 Transportation and Access Hazards​

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​4.12 Cyberattack​

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​4.13 Other Hazards​

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​4.14 Tribal Capability Assessment​

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​4.15 Overall Vulnerability Summary and Loss Estimation​

​81​​PART FIVE: MITIGATION STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN​

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​5.1 Strategy Framework​

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​5.2 Regulatory Framework​

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​5.3 Status of 2021 THMP Mitigation Actions​

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​5.4 Prioritization Criteria​

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​5.5 Goals and Objectives​

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​5.6 Mitigation Actions — Detail Sheets​

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​Action 5.6.1 — Tribal Fire Program — Phase 1 (Priority 1)​

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​Action 5.6.2 — Bear River Police Department Reinstatement​

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​Action 5.6.3 — Emergency Resilience Campus — Singley Hill Corridor​

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​Action 5.6.4 — Singley Hill Corridor and Secondary Egress Program​

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​Action 5.6.5 — Recreation Center Generator and 30-Day Fuel Capability​

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​Action 5.6.6 — Resort Seismic Assessment (Active HMGP Project)​

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​HMGP - 4692 - Seismic Retrofit and Slope Stabilization Project​

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​ ction 5.6.7 — Mattole Beach Emergency Protocol​

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​Action 5.6.8 — FEMA-4692-DR Public Assistance Contract Execution​

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​5.7 Mitigation Actions 9 through 26​

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​5.8 Master Priority Summary — All 26 Actions​

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​5.9 Funding Strategy​

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100​​PART SIX: PLAN MAINTENANCE​

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101​ ​6.1 Monitoring​

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102​ ​6.2 Evaluation​

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103​ ​6.3 Updating​

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104​ ​6.4 Continued Public Participation​

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105​ ​6.5 Integration into Other Planning Mechanisms​

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106​ ​6.6 Project Closeout​

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107​ ​6.7 Assurances​

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108​​APPENDIX A: PLANNING PROCESS DOCUMENTATION​

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109​​APPENDIX B: COMMUNITY HAZARD MITIGATION SURVEY​

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110​​APPENDIX C: TRIBAL STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH DOCUMENTATION​

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111​​APPENDIX D: MITIGATION ACTION COMPLETION REPORT (MACR) TEMPLATE​

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112​​APPENDIX E: TRIBAL COUNCIL ADOPTION RESOLUTION​

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113​​APPENDIX F: ENERGY EMERGENCY PLAN​

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114​​APPENDIX G: PET AND SERVICE ANIMAL EMERGENCY PLAN​

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115​​APPENDIX H: SEVERE WEATHER EMPLOYEE TRAINING MODULE​

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116​​APPENDIX I: PRE-STORM CULVERT AND DRAINAGE INSPECTION PROTOCOL​

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117​​APPENDIX J: FLOODING ENGINEERING DOCUMENTATION​

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118​​PRE-SUBMISSION CHECKLIST (INTERNAL — REMOVE BEFORE PUBLIC RELEASE AND​

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119​​FEMA SUBMISSION)​

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​EXECUTIVE SUMMARY​

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​21​​The Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria (BRB or the Tribe) is a federally recognized​

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122​​sovereign Tribal nation located in Humboldt County, California. This Tribal Hazard Mitigation​

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123​​Plan (THMP) is the Tribe's five-year update to its original plan, adopted February 18, 2021 and​

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124​​approved by FEMA Region IX on March 30, 2022. The plan is prepared pursuant to 44 CFR §​

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125​​201.7 and the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, and its approval maintains the Tribe's eligibility for​

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126​​FEMA hazard mitigation assistance, including the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)​

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127​​and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC).​

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​28​​This plan is organized around four community pillars articulated by the Tribe: Quality of Life,​

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129​​Self-Sufficiency, Sustainability, and Cultural Awareness, anchored by the guiding philosophy that​

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130​​healing the land heals the people. These pillars are not decorative framing — they are the​

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131​​substantive organizing logic of the plan. Mitigation priorities reflect Tribal values and institutional​

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132​​goals, including workforce development and cultural healing, and not simply hazard frequency​

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133​​or severity.​

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​34​​The period since the 2021 plan has been eventful. On December 20, 2022, a magnitude 6.4​

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135​​earthquake struck offshore of Ferndale, causing documented damage across ten Tribal facilities​

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136​​and resulting in a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration (FEMA-4692-DR) — the Tribe's first​

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137​​direct declaration. December earthquakes in 2021, 2022, and 2024 form a three-event trilogy​

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138​​that has elevated seismic risk to the Tribe's highest hazard priority. In February 2026 the Tribe​

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139​​conducted its first-ever hydrant flow test of all 16 hydrants on the Tish Non water system per​

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140​​NFPA 291. Whitchurch Engineering documented six localized flooding sites in March 2024​

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141​​(Project BRB2401), identifying systemic infrastructure maintenance governance failure as the​

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142​​root cause, and the Bureau of Reclamation has funded infrastructure improvements under​

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143​​Agreement R25AP00342.​

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​44​​This update identifies ten hazards, presents tribal-specific vulnerability data as primary (with​

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145​​regional data as supplemental context, per FEMA's 2022 review guidance), documents the​

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146​​status of all 15 mitigation actions from the 2021 plan, and establishes 26 mitigation actions for​

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147​​the 2026–2031 cycle. The highest priorities include establishment of a Tribal Fire Program​

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148​​(Priority 1 — framed as workforce development, cultural revitalization, and land healing),​

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149​​reinstatement of the Bear River Police Department, development of an Emergency Resilience​

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150​​Campus on the Singley Hill corridor adjacent to the Rancheria, secondary egress via Bowie​

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151​​Road to Echo Lane, and execution of the approved but unspent FEMA Public Assistance​

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152​​contract under FEMA-4692-DR.​

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​53​​This plan is a public document. Operationally sensitive details are maintained in the BRB​

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154​​Emergency Operations Plan and are not reproduced here. Members of the Tribal community​

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155​​and the public are invited to review this draft and provide comment to the Office of Emergency​

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156​​Services before the plan is finalized for Tribal Council adoption and FEMA Region IX​

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157​​submission.​

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159​ ​Released for Public Comment on: 8/4/2026​

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160​ ​Closed for Review on: 9/14/2026​

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​PART ONE: INTRODUCTION​

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164​​1.1 Purpose and Background​

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​65​​The purpose of this Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan is to identify the natural and human-caused​

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166​​hazards that threaten the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria, assess the Tribe's​

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167​​vulnerability to those hazards, and establish a prioritized strategy of mitigation actions that​

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168​​reduce long-term risk to life, property, the Tribal economy, and cultural resources. Hazard​

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169​​mitigation is sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk — it is distinct from​

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170​​preparedness, response, and recovery, though it strengthens all three.​

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177​​1.2 Regulatory Basis​

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​71​​This plan is an update to the Tribe's original THMP, adopted by Tribal Council on February 18,​

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172​​2021 under Resolution No. 21-11 and approved by FEMA Region IX on March 30, 2022​

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173​​following revisions in October 2021 and January 2022. As a plan update, this document​

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174​​addresses the additional requirements of 44 CFR § 201.7(d)(3): changes in development,​

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175​​progress on prior mitigation actions, and changes in priorities are documented throughout,​

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176​​principally in Part Five.​

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​ isaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000), amending the Robert T. Stafford Disaster​

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​Relief and Emergency Assistance Act​

​44 CFR § 201.7 — Tribal Mitigation Plans, establishing the criteria for FEMA approval of​

​tribal plans​

​Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 (SRIA), which established federally​

​recognized tribes' authority to request Presidential disaster declarations directly,​

​affirming the government-to-government relationship​

​Robert T. Stafford Act §§ 203, 404, and 406 — pre-disaster mitigation, Hazard Mitigation​

​Grant Program, and Public Assistance mitigation​

​2 CFR Parts 200 and 3002 — uniform administrative requirements for federal awards​

​Executive Order 13175 — Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal​

​Governments​

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178​​This plan is prepared under the following federal authorities:​

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​91​​As a federally recognized sovereign nation, BRB engages with FEMA on a​

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192​​government-to-government basis. This plan is submitted directly to FEMA Region IX and does​

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193​​not require state review.​

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194​​1.3 FEMA Mitigation Grant Programs​

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​95​​An approved THMP maintains the Tribe's eligibility for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance,​

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196​​including the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Building Resilient Infrastructure and​

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197​​Communities (BRIC), and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA), as well as mitigation opportunities​

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198​​within Public Assistance (PA Categories C–G). The Tribe has a Presidential Major Disaster​

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199​​Declaration (FEMA-4692-DR) establishing direct HMGP eligibility, an active HMGP-funded​

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200​​seismic assessment project, and an approved PA contract pending execution. BRB is actively​

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201​​pursuing both HMGP and BRIC funding opportunities as of the date of this plan update.​

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202​​1.4 Tribal Mitigation Vision and Mission​

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203​​Mitigation Vision​

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​04​​To create a vibrant Tribal community that promotes safety through preventative planning,​

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205​​training, and the implementation of strategies designed to avoid or mitigate potential risks to​

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206​​Tribal citizens, Rancheria visitors, and Tribal assets — including those on the main Rancheria,​

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207​​discontiguous Tribal lands, and ancestral territories where Tribal members gather.​

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208​​Mitigation Mission​

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213​​1.5 The Four Community Pillars​

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​09​​To protect the Tribal community and its resources through the establishment of an integrated​

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210​​mitigation program that helps BRB prevent and reduce the incidence of injury and damage from​

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211​​hazards, assert Tribal authority over public safety on Tribal trust lands, and build long-term​

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212​​community resilience consistent with Tribal sovereignty and self-determination.​

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​Pillar​

​Meaning in This Plan​

​Quality of Life​

​ rotecting the health, safety, housing, and daily well-being of Tribal citizens,​

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​elders, children, and employees​

​Self-Sufficiency​

​ uilding Tribal capability to respond to and recover from emergencies without​

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​dependence on outside agencies whose response is delayed or uncertain​

​Sustainability​

I​nvesting in infrastructure, energy, and water systems that endure across​

​generations and changing climate conditions​

​ rotecting ceremonial sites, cultural practices, language, and the Tribe's​

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​relationship with ancestral lands — recognizing that cultural restoration is itself​

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​Cultural Awareness​

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​14​​Every mitigation action in this plan advances one or more of four community pillars established​

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215​​by the Tribe. Together with the guiding philosophy that healing the land heals the people, these​

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216​​pillars are the organizing logic of the plan:​

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218​​1.6 Plan Goals​

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​19​​Goal 1:​​Preserve human life at BRB Rancheria and protect​​the health, safety, and well-being of​

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220​​Tribal citizens, Tribal employees, and visitors to BRB Rancheria and Tribal lands.​

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​21​​Goal 2:​​Protect and safeguard BRB property, including​​buildings, water, electrical and other​

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222​​utilities, equipment, land, cultural resources, and environmental resources.​

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​23​​Goal 3:​​Preserve and protect Tribal government and​​economic enterprises from interruption and​

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224​​implement mitigation strategies that reduce the likelihood of long-term disruptions.​

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225​​1.7 Plan Organization​

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226​​Table 1-1: Plan Organization​

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​Title​

​Description​

​Part One​

​Introduction​

​ urpose, regulatory basis, grant programs, vision, mission,​

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​and goals​

​Part Two​

​Planning Process​

​ lan update process, committee membership, public​

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​participation, and agency coordination​

​Part Three​

​Community and Land Profile​

​ ribal history, lands, facilities, population, infrastructure, and​

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​public services​

​Part Four​

​Risk Assessment​

​ azard identification, profiling, vulnerability assessment, and​

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​loss estimation​

​Part Five​

​ itigation Strategy and​

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​Action Plan​

​ oals, objectives, and 26 mitigation actions with responsible​

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​parties and timelines​

​Part Six​

​Plan Maintenance​

​Monitoring, evaluation, and update procedures​

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228​​Supporting documentation is provided in the following appendices:​

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​ ppendix A: Planning Process Documentation — meeting notes, sign-in sheets, and​

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​planning timeline​

​Appendix B: Community Hazard Mitigation Survey — instrument and results​

​Appendix C: Tribal Stakeholder Outreach Documentation​

​Appendix D: Mitigation Action Completion Report (MACR) Template​

​Appendix E: Tribal Council Adoption Resolution​

​Appendix F: Energy Emergency Plan​

​Appendix G: Pet and Service Animal Emergency Plan​

​Appendix H: Severe Weather Employee Training Module​

​Appendix I: Pre-Storm Culvert and Drainage Inspection Protocol​

​Appendix J: Flooding Engineering Documentation​

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​PART TWO: PLANNING PROCESS​

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242​​2.1 Description of the Planning Process​

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​43​​To update this THMP, the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria reconvened its Hazard​

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244​​Mitigation Planning Committee and initiated a structured, phased planning process led by​

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245​​Amanda Gonzales, Office of Emergency Services Manager, with support from Nicholas​

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246​​Anderson, Office of Emergency Services Logistics Coordinator.​

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252​​Table 2-1: Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee​

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​Role​

​Office of Emergency Services​

​Plan Lead / Coordinator​

​Tribal Administration​

​Committee Member​

​Information Technology​

​Grants Management​

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​Department​

​Human Resources​

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​47​​The planning process was designed to meet the requirements of 44 CFR § 201.7(b) and (c),​

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248​​which require that the process: (1) include an opportunity for neighboring communities, local​

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249​​and regional agencies, businesses, and other organizations to be involved; (2) include the​

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250​​public; and (3) be conducted in a manner consistent with the government-to-government​

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251​​relationship between the Tribe and federal agencies.​

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​Committee Member​

​Committee Member​

​Committee Member​

​Facilities and Maintenance​

​Committee Member​

​Finance​

​Committee Member​

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​54​​Meeting notes and sign-in sheets are maintained on file at the BRB Office of Emergency​

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255​​Services ; the planning process, partner engagement, and schedule are documented in​

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256​​Appendix A.​

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264​​2.2 Public Participation​

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​65​​As​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​public​ ​participation​ ​process​ ​for​ ​this​ ​plan​ ​update,​ ​the​ ​Office​ ​of​ ​Emergency​ ​Services​

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266​​distributed​​a​​community​​hazard​​survey​​to​​Tribal​​citizens,​​Tribal​​government​​employees,​​and​​residents​​of​

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267​​the​ ​planning​ ​area.​ ​Respondents​ ​rated​ ​their​ ​level​ ​of​ ​concern​ ​for​ ​eight​ ​hazards​ ​on​ ​a​ ​five-point​ ​scale,​

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268​​identified​ ​hazards​ ​that​ ​have​ ​personally​ ​affected​ ​their​ ​households,​ ​ranked​ ​the​ ​community​ ​facilities​ ​and​

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269​​infrastructure​ ​they​ ​considered​ ​most​ ​critical​ ​to​ ​protect,​ ​and​ ​assessed​ ​household​​preparedness,​​warning​

​

270​​system​ ​effectiveness,​ ​and​ ​evacuation​ ​readiness.​ ​Respondents​ ​were​ ​also​ ​invited​ ​to​ ​identify​ ​specific​

​

271​​hazardous​ ​locations​ ​and​ ​to​ ​suggest​ ​mitigation​ ​actions​ ​in​ ​their​ ​own​ ​words.​ ​The​ ​survey​ ​instrument​ ​and​

​

272​​complete response tabulation are provided in Appendix B.​

​

T​

​73​​Survey​​participation​​spanned​​enrolled​​Tribal​​members​​living​​on​​trust​​land,​​Tribal​​government​​employees,​

2

274​​and​​non-member​​residents​​of​​the​​planning​​area,​​with​​tenure​​in​​the​​planning​​area​​ranging​​from​​under​​five​

​

275​​years​ ​to​ ​more​ ​than​ ​twenty.​ ​Results​ ​were​​used​​to​​validate​​the​​hazard​​rankings​​developed​​by​​the​​THMP​

​

276​​Planning Team and directly informed the prioritization of mitigation actions in Part Five​​.​

​

277​​Community Hazard Concerns​

​

​Average Concern​

​Rating (1–5)​

R

​Hazard​

AF

​78​​Earthquake​ ​registered​ ​the​ ​highest​ ​community​ ​concern​ ​of​ ​any​ ​hazard,​ ​consistent​ ​with​ ​the​​Tribe's​​direct​

2

279​​experience​​of​​the​​December​​earthquake​​sequence​​of​​2021,​​2022,​​and​​2024​​and​​the​​damages​​sustained​

​

280​​across​​ten​​Tribal​​facilities​​under​​FEMA-4692-DR.​​Power​​outage​​ranked​​second​​—​​a​​notable​​result,​​as​​it​

​

281​​confirms​ ​that​​the​​community​​experiences​​energy​​disruption​​as​​a​​hazard​​in​​its​​own​​right​​rather​​than​​only​

​

282​​as​ ​a​ ​secondary​ ​effect,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​directly​ ​supports​ ​the​ ​priority​ ​placed​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Energy​ ​Emergency​ ​Plan​

​

283​​(Appendix​​F)​​and​​backup​​power​​actions​​in​​Part​​Five.​​Severe​​weather​​and​​landslide/erosion​​ranked​​third​

​

284​​at​​equivalent​​levels;​​elevated​​concern​​for​​landslide​​and​​erosion​​aligns​​with​​the​​slope​​and​​bank​​instability​

​

285​​documented​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Whitchurch​ ​Engineering​ ​assessment​ ​(BRB2401).​ ​Concern​ ​for​ ​drought​​and​​extreme​

​

286​​heat was comparatively low, consistent with the Rancheria's coastal climate.​

​

​Typical Response​

​Range​

​Rank​

​3.7​

​Very / Extremely​

​1​

​Power Outage​

​3.2​

​Moderately / Very​

​2​

​ evere Weather (Thunderstorms,​

S

​High Winds, Hail)​

​3.0​

​Moderately​

​3 (tie)​

​Landslide / Erosion​

​3.0​

​Moderately​

​3 (tie)​

​Wildfire​

​2.8​

​Moderately​

​5​

​Flooding​

​2.4​

​Slightly / Moderately​

​6​

​Drought / Water Shortage​

​1.8​

​Slightly​

​7 (tie)​

​Extreme Heat​

​1.8​

​Slightly​

​7 (tie)​

​D

​Earthquake​

​87​ ​Table 2-2. Community hazard concern ratings. Averages reflect all responses received for each​

2

288​

​

​hazard; not every respondent rated every hazard.​

289​​Hazards Experienced by the Community​

​

​90​​Respondents​​were​​asked​​which​​hazards​​had​​personally​​affected​​their​​household​​or​​property​​in​​the​​past,​

2

291​​including​ ​loss​ ​of​ ​utilities,​ ​property​ ​damage,​ ​or​ ​evacuation.​ ​Earthquakes​ ​accounted​ ​for​ ​nearly​​half​​of​​all​

​

292​​reported​​impacts​​—​​every​​hazard​​experience​​profile​​but​​one​​included​​it​​—​​reinforcing​​its​​position​​as​​the​

​

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​93​​Tribe's​​defining​​hazard.​​Reported​​impacts​​from​​severe​​weather,​​flooding,​​and​​drought/water​​issues​​were​

2

294​​distributed​ ​evenly​ ​behind​ ​it.​ ​No​ ​respondent​ ​reported​ ​a​ ​past​ ​wildfire​ ​impact,​ ​consistent​ ​with​ ​wildfire's​

​

295​​moderate​​concern​​rating;​​wildfire​​nonetheless​​remains​​fully​​profiled​​in​​Part​​Four​​given​​regional​​fire​​history​

​

296​​and the fuels conditions documented in the risk assessment.​

​

​Hazard​

​Reported Past Impacts​

​45%​

​Severe Weather (Wind / Storms)​

​18%​

​Flooding​

​18%​

​Drought / Water Issues​

​18%​

T​

​Earthquake​

​Wildfire​

​0%​

​97​ T

2

​ able 2-3. Hazards reported by respondents as having personally affected their household or​

298​ ​property, as a share of all reported impacts; respondents could select more than one hazard.​

​

299​​Critical Facilities and Infrastructure Priorities​

​

​Facility / Infrastructure​

​Rank​

​Water / Wastewater Treatment Plants​

​22%​

​1​

​Power Lines / Power Distribution​

​19%​

​2​

​Major Roadways / Bridges​

​15%​

​3 (tie)​

​Daycare / Youth Development Center​

​15%​

​3 (tie)​

​Tribal Administrative Offices​

​7%​

​5 (tie)​

​Social Services Offices​

​7%​

​5 (tie)​

​Essential Businesses​

​7%​

​5 (tie)​

​Cultural / Historical Sites​

​4%​

​8 (tie)​

​Gaming Offices​

​4%​

​8 (tie)​

R

​Share of Selections​

​D

AF

​00​​Asked​ ​which​ ​community​ ​buildings​ ​and​ ​infrastructure​ ​are​ ​most​ ​critical​ ​to​ ​protect​​during​​a​​hazard​​event,​

3

301​​respondents​​converged​​strongly​​on​​lifeline​​systems:​​water​​and​​wastewater​​treatment,​​power​​distribution,​

​

302​​and​​major​​roadways​​and​​bridges​​together​​accounted​​for​​over​​half​​of​​all​​selections,​​with​​water/wastewater​

​

303​​treatment​ ​appearing​ ​in​ ​every​ ​respondent's​ ​priorities.​ ​The​ ​Daycare/Youth​ ​Development​ ​Center​ ​ranked​

​

304​​alongside​ ​roadways​ ​—​ ​a​ ​clear​ ​community​ ​statement​ ​that​ ​protection​​of​​children​​and​​youth​​facilities​​is​​a​

​

305​​first-order​​priority.​​These​​results​​reinforce​​the​​infrastructure​​focus​​of​​the​​mitigation​​strategy​​and​​align​​with​

​

306​​the lifeline vulnerabilities identified in the FY 2025 Stakeholder Preparedness Review.​

​

​07​​Table 2-4. Community facilities and infrastructure identified as most critical to protect, as a share​

3

308​

​

​of all selections.​

309​

​

310​

​

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311​​What We Heard: Locations, Suggestions, and Readiness​

​

​12​​The​ ​open-ended​ ​responses​ ​provided​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​actionable​ ​input​ ​in​ ​the​ ​survey.​ ​Respondents​

3

313​​identified​ ​specific​ ​hazardous​ ​locations:​ ​mature​ ​bull​ ​pine​ ​trees​ ​along​ ​Singley​ ​Hill​ ​Road​ ​across​ ​from​​the​

​

314​​casino​ ​that​ ​shed​ ​large​ ​limbs​ ​in​ ​high​ ​winds;​ ​U.S.​ ​Highway​ ​101​ ​at​ ​Beatrice​ ​Hill;​ ​Fernbridge​ ​as​ ​a​

​

315​​flood-vulnerable​​crossing;​​and​​the​​single-access,​​one-way-in/one-way-out​​configuration​​of​​portions​​of​​the​

​

316​​Rancheria.​​The​​access​​concern​​directly​​corroborates​​the​​secondary​​egress​​route​​action​​in​​Part​​Five,​​and​

​

317​​the tree hazard reports support the vegetation management actions in the mitigation strategy.​

​

T​

​18​​Respondent​ ​suggestions​ ​for​ ​mitigation​ ​actions​ ​included​ ​tree-topping​ ​on​ ​Tribal​ ​home​ ​sites​ ​(with​ ​one​

3

319​​respondent​ ​specifically​ ​proposing​ ​pursuit​ ​of​ ​Stafford​ ​Act​ ​Section​ ​404​ ​Hazard​​Mitigation​​Grant​​Program​

​

320​​funding);​ ​backup​ ​power,​ ​water,​ ​and​ ​connectivity​ ​for​ ​critical​ ​functions;​ ​department-level​ ​and​ ​household​

​

321​​emergency​ ​plans​ ​and​ ​kits;​ ​designated​ ​protective​ ​location​ ​zones​ ​for​ ​use​ ​during​ ​disasters;​ ​sheltering​

​

322​​capacity​ ​with​ ​food,​ ​power,​ ​heat,​ ​and​ ​water​ ​for​ ​displaced​ ​persons;​ ​and​ ​an​ ​annual​ ​full-scale​ ​community​

​

323​​exercise​ ​paired​​with​​field​​medical​​training​​and​​certification,​​reflecting​​the​​extended​​emergency​​response​

​

324​​times​​characteristic​​of​​rural​​communities.​​Each​​of​​these​​suggestions​​was​​reviewed​​by​​the​​Planning​​Team​

​

325​​and is reflected in, or informed the prioritization of, the mitigation actions in Part Five.​

​

​D

R

AF

​26​​On​ ​community​ ​readiness:​ ​most​ ​respondents​ ​rated​ ​the​ ​Tribe's​ ​warning​ ​systems​​(RAVE​​alerts,​​text,​​and​

3

327​​email)​​as​​effective​​or​​very​​effective​​in​​reaching​​them​​during​​emergencies,​​with​​one​​respondent​​reporting​

​

328​​the​​systems​​do​​not​​reach​​them​​effectively​​—​​a​​result​​that​​supports​​continued​​enrollment​​outreach​​under​

​

329​​the​ ​severe​ ​weather​ ​training​ ​program​ ​(Appendix​ ​H).​ ​Household​ ​preparedness​ ​self-ratings​ ​averaged​​the​

​

330​​midpoint​ ​of​ ​the​ ​scale,​ ​indicating​ ​meaningful​ ​room​ ​for​ ​improvement​ ​in​ ​household-level​ ​readiness.​

​

331​​Estimated​​household​​evacuation​​times​​divided​​evenly​​between​​under​​thirty​​minutes​​and​​thirty​​minutes​​to​

​

332​​one​ ​hour.​ ​Text​ ​alerts​ ​and​ ​email​ ​were​ ​the​ ​most​ ​common​​channels​​for​​receiving​​emergency​​information,​

​

333​​followed​ ​by​ ​word​ ​of​ ​mouth​ ​and​ ​social​ ​media.​ ​Every​ ​respondent​ ​expressed​ ​willingness​ ​or​ ​conditional​

​

334​​willingness​ ​to​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​future​ ​preparedness​ ​and​ ​mitigation​ ​training​ ​—​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​mandate​ ​for​ ​the​

​

335​​training and exercise actions in Part Five.​

​

​36​​Figure 2-1: Average community concern rating by hazard, 2026 Community Hazard Mitigation Survey​

3

337​​(five-point scale; see Appendix B for survey instrument and full results).​

​

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338​​2.3 Stakeholder and Intergovernmental Coordination​

​

​39​​Stakeholder coordination for this update ran through the integrated 2025–2026 Tribal​

3

340​​emergency planning sequence. Development of the BRB Emergency Operations Plan (July​

​

341​​2025) directly engaged regional emergency management entities—including the Humboldt​

​

342​​County Office of Emergency Services, Loleta Fire Department, CAL FIRE / Fortuna Emergency​

​

343​​Command Center, and adjacent Tribal nations. Collaborative input from these regional​

​

344​​stakeholders is integrated across this THMP, alongside capability assessments from the 2025​

​

345​​SPR and 2026 THIRA. In addition, each government and agency listed below was notified of​

​

346​​this draft’s availability and invited to comment during the public review period (August 4 –​

​

347​​September 4, 2026).​

​

​•​

​•​

​•​

​•​

​•​

​•​

​•​

​ eighboring Tribal Nations​​— Wiyot Tribe, Blue Lake​​Rancheria, Cher-Ae Heights​

N

​Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria, Yurok Tribe, Hoopa Valley Tribe, and Karuk​

​Tribe; regional intertribal cooperation concerning shared hazards and mutual assistance.​

​Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services​​— coordination​​for the operational​

​area, alerting systems, and mass care strategy; active EOP planning contributor.​

​Loleta Fire Department​​— structural fire protection​​and current JHA; subject of​

​formalization and sovereignty documentation under Action 5.6.19.​

​CAL FIRE / Fortuna Emergency Command Center​​— regional​​emergency dispatch​

​and command services; participant in the Tribal EOP cycle.​

​Bureau of Indian Affairs​​— standing coordination regarding​​federal trust duties and​

​wildland fire protection on trust lands (Federal Responsibility Area).​

​Whitchurch Engineering, Inc.​​— flooding infrastructure​​engineering and site-specific​

​assessments under Project BRB2401.​

​Bureau of Reclamation​​— active infrastructure partnership​​established via Agreement​

​No. R25AP00342.​

​U.S. Army Corps of Engineers​​— study and technical​​assistance project focused on​

​the Mattole Beach area and the Salmon Ceremony; produced the mapping series used​

​throughout this plan; two-day site visit May 6–7, 2026.​

AF

​•​

R

​50​

3

351​

​

352​

​

353​

​

354​

​

355​

​

356​

​

357​

​

358​

​

359​

​

360​

​

361​

​

362​

​

363​

​

364​

​

365​

​

366​

​

367​

​

T​

​48​​The Tribe maintains coordination relationships with the following governments and partner​

3

349​​agencies:​

​

368​​2.4 Integration with THIRA, SPR, and Other Tribal Planning​

​

​D

​69​​This THMP is one of three integrated documents in the Tribe's federal emergency planning​

3

370​​framework. The 2026 Tribal Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA)​

​

371​​establishes capability targets across standardized scenarios; the 2025 Stakeholder​

​

372​​Preparedness Review (SPR) measures current capability against those targets and identifies​

​

373​​gaps; and this THMP establishes the mitigation actions that close them. Capability gaps​

​

374​​identified in the SPR are cited directly in the mitigation action sheets in Part Five. The plan is​

​

375​​also integrated with the BRB Emergency Operations Plan (July 2025), which contains​

​

376​​operational detail intentionally excluded from this public document.​

​

377​​2.5 Review and Incorporation of Existing Plans, Studies, and Reports​

​

378​​The following documents were reviewed and incorporated into this update:​

​

​79​

3

380​

​

381​

​

​•​

​ RB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan (2021, FEMA approved 2022) and FEMA Region IX​

B

​Plan Review Tool (March 30, 2022) — all Opportunities for Improvement from FEMA's​

​review are addressed in this update​

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​82​

3

383​

​

384​

​

385​

​

386​

​

387​

​

388​

​

389​

​

390​

​

•​ ​

​•​

​•​

•​ ​

​•​

​•​

​•​

​ 026 BRB THIRA and 2025 BRB SPR executive summaries​

2

​BRB Emergency Operations Plan (July 2025)​

​Whitchurch Engineering Scoping Letter, Project No. BRB2401 (March 7, 2024) —​

​six-site flooding assessment​

​Bureau of Reclamation Agreement No. R25AP00342​

​FEMA-4692-DR Public Assistance damage documentation (ten facilities)​

​BRB Hydrant Flow Test Report (February 2026, NFPA 291)​

​County of Humboldt Hazard Mitigation Plan and CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone​

​mapping (as supplemental regional context)​

T​

391​​2.6 Government-to-Government Relationship​

​

​92​​Consistent with the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 and Executive Order 13175,​

3

393​​BRB engages FEMA directly as a sovereign government. The Tribe's December 2022​

​

394​​Presidential Major Disaster Declaration (FEMA-4692-DR) was received directly, and this plan​

​

395​​will be submitted directly to FEMA Region IX for review and approval. This plan asserts and​

​

396​​documents Tribal jurisdictional authority over public safety on Tribal trust lands.​

​

399​

​

400​

​

401​

​

402​

​

403​

​

404​

​

405​

​

406​

​

407​

​

408​

​

​D

409​

​

R

398​

​

AF

397​

​

410​

​

411​

​

412​

​

413​

​

414​

​

415​

​

416​

​

417​

​

418​

​

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​PART THREE: COMMUNITY AND LAND PROFILE​

419​

​

420​

​

AF

​22​​This section provides a​

4

423​​comprehensive profile of​

​

424​​the Bear River Band of​

​

425​​the Rohnerville​

​

426​​Rancheria, including its​

​

427​​history, governance,​

​

428​​demographics, land​

​

429​​holdings, critical​

​

430​​facilities, infrastructure,​

​

431​​and public services.​

​

432​​This information forms​

​

433​​the foundation for the​

​

434​​risk assessment in Part​

​

435​​Four and for the​

​

436​​mitigation actions in Part​

​

437​​Five.​

​

T​

421​​3.1 Overview​

​

​D

R

​38​​Understanding the​

4

439​​community profile in the​

​

440​​context of BRB's history​

​

441​​is essential to​

​

442​​understanding why​

​

443​​current vulnerabilities​

​

444​​exist. The Tribe's history​

​

445​​of dispossession,​

​

446​​termination, and​

​

447​​restoration is not​

​

448​​background information​

​

449​​— it is direct causal​

​

450​​context for the​

​

451​​infrastructure gaps,​

​

452​​dispersed population,​

​

453​​and institutional capacity​

​

454​​constraints that define​

​

455​​BRB's current hazard​

​

456​​vulnerability.​

​

​57​

4

458​

​

459​

​

460​

​

461​

​

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462​​3.2 History and Connection to Land​

​

T​

​63​​The Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria is a federation of Wiyot and Eel River, Bear​

4

464​​River, and Mattole peoples whose ancestors have inhabited what is now Humboldt County since​

​

465​​time immemorial. These peoples maintained — and continue to maintain — deep cultural,​

​

466​​spiritual, and ecological relationships with the rivers, forests, coastline, and lands of the region.​

​

467​​The Mattole River watershed, the Humboldt coast, and the territory surrounding the Eel River​

​

468​​are not simply geographic references in this plan; they are ancestral homelands central to Tribal​

​

469​​identity, ceremony, and the well-being of Tribal members today. The Tribe's present​

​

470​​demographic profile, geographic dispersal, and hazard vulnerabilities are direct consequences​

​

471​​of documented historical policies of violence, displacement, and cultural suppression. This​

​

472​​history is not background context. It is the foundation of this plan.​

​

473​​The 1860 Coordinated Massacres and Aftermath​

​

AF

​74​​Following the 1849 Gold Rush, settlers flooded the Humboldt Bay, Eel River, and Bear River​

4

475​​basins, seizing hunting grounds and converting indigenous lands into private ranches. On​

​

476​​February 26, 1860, a secret committee of settlers launched coordinated, simultaneous attacks​

​

477​​on Native villages at Table Bluff, Eel River, Bear River, and the Mattole Valley. The Indian Island​

​

478​​(Duluwat Island) massacre killed an estimated 80 to 250 Wiyot people — primarily women,​

​

479​​children, and elders — during a traditional World Renewal Ceremony. Survivors were marched​

​

480​​to Fort Humboldt, where nearly half died from starvation and disease. Approximately 450​

​

481​​survivors were forcibly marched to the Klamath River Reservation; when that reservation was​

​

482​​destroyed in the 1861–1862 floods, returning refugees were hunted and forcibly relocated to​

​

483​​Hoopa Valley, Smith River, and Round Valley. The Wiyot population, estimated at 1,500 to 2,000​

​

484​​in 1850, numbered only 100 by the 1900 U.S. Census.​

​

485​​The Indian Boarding School Era​

​

​D

R

​86​​From the late 1800s through the 1970s, the U.S. government institutionalized regional children​

4

487​​at facilities including the Hoopa Valley Boarding School, the Round Valley Indian School, the​

​

488​​Sherman Institute in Riverside, and the Chemawa Indian School in Salem, Oregon — hundreds​

​

489​​of miles from their families. The boarding school era directly caused the loss of fluent Wiyot and​

​

490​​Mattole language speakers and disrupted intergenerational cultural transmission. The forced​

​

491​​separation of children from their families created patterns of dispersal and institutional​

​

492​​involvement that continue to affect the Tribal community today, including the contemporary​

​

493​​foster care vulnerability addressed in this plan. The Bear River Band dedicates substantial​

​

494​​resources to cultural revitalization, Tribal language programs, and mental health initiatives to​

​

495​​address these intergenerational impacts, including through the BIA Living Languages Grant​

​

496​​Program.​

​

497​​The 1958 Termination and the Tillie Hardwick Lawsuit​

​

​98​​In the 1950s, the U.S. government enacted the Termination Era policy, aiming to forcibly​

4

499​​assimilate Native Americans by dissolving their tribal status. Under the California Rancheria Act​

​

500​​of 1958, the government terminated 41 California Rancherias including the Rohnerville​

​

501​​Rancheria. Tribal communal lands were converted into private parcels subject to state taxation,​

​

502​​causing many impoverished families to lose their properties. Tribal members were stripped of​

​

503​​their legal recognition as Indians and rendered ineligible for federal health, education, and​

​

504​​housing services. Critically, the BIA terminated the Tribe without fulfilling mandatory promises to​

​

505​​upgrade infrastructure, water systems, and roads — a failure that contributed to the​

​

506​​infrastructure deficiencies that persist on the Rancheria today.​

​

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​07​​In 1979, Tillie Hardwick led a class-action lawsuit against the United States on behalf of 17​

5

508​​terminated rancherias, arguing that the BIA had unlawfully terminated the tribes without meeting​

​

509​​its infrastructure obligations. On July 19, 1983, the court approved a judgment restoring federal​

​

510​​recognition to the Bear River Band, restoring Tribal sovereignty, re-establishing individual Tribal​

​

511​​member rights to federal services, and enabling the rebuilding of the Tribal land base. The initial​

​

512​​60 acres of what is referred to as “the Old Rancheria” in Rohnerville - Fortuna CA, were​

​

513​​acquired in 1991 and taken into trust in 1994. An additional 113 acres were acquired in 2007​

​

514​​through the Fearrien Property transfer. Subsequent acquisitions have expanded the main​

​

515​​Rancheria to approximately 263 acres as of 2026, in Loleta CA.​

​

516​​The Salmon Ceremony — Cultural Restoration and Ecological Stewardship​

​

T​

​17​​The Bear River and Mattole peoples traditionally performed a Salmon Return Ceremony at the​

5

518​​mouth of the Mattole River — a sacred practice marking the return of salmon and maintaining​

​

519​​the spiritual and ecological relationship between the people and the watershed. The ceremony​

​

520​​was last fully performed around 1902–1903, before forced displacement made physical access​

​

521​​to the Mattole River estuary impossible, and its formal cultural framework dissolved in 1958​

​

522​​when termination destroyed the structural support needed to coordinate intergenerational​

​

523​​gatherings.​

​

532​​3.3 Governance​

​

AF

​24​​The ceremony remained dormant for over a century. Beginning approximately 2020, the Bear​

5

525​​River Band partnered with local conservationists from the Lost Coast League and the Mattole​

​

526​​Salmon Group to revitalize the ceremony, with community members welcoming Bear River​

​

527​​members back to the Mattole Beach area. The revived Salmon Ceremony is one of the most​

​

528​​significant cultural restoration efforts in modern BRB history. When this plan documents tsunami​

​

529​​and coastal risk at Mattole Beach, it is documenting risk to an irreplaceable cultural practice that​

​

530​​took 120 years to restore — which is why Mattole Beach protective actions carry weight in this​

​

531​​plan disproportionate to event frequency.​

​

​D

R

​33​​BRB is governed by an elected Tribal Council. Tribal government departments include​

5

534​​Administration, Education, Office of Emergency Services, Public Works and Facilities, Housing,​

​

535​​Social Services, Renewable Energy Department, Environmental and Natural Resources, Grants​

​

536​​Management, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, and cultural and language​

​

537​​programs. The Tribe's principal economic enterprise is the Bear River Casino Resort, whose​

​

538​​revenue funds Tribal government services — a structural fact reflected in the fuel rationing​

​

539​​hierarchy and continuity priorities in this plan.​

​

540​

​

541​

​

542​

​

​43​

5

544​

​

545​

​

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546​​3.4 Tribal Lands​

​

567​

​

568​

​

569​

​

570​

​

571​

​

572​

​

573​

​

574​

​

575​

​

​D

576​

​

R

566​

​

AF

T​

​47​​The Tribal planning area consists of the main Rancheria of approximately 263 acres near​

5

548​​Loleta, together with discontiguous Tribal lands including parcels in the Singley Hill corridor​

​

549​​adjacent to the Rancheria, the Petrolia area parcel, and ancestral gathering areas including​

​

550​​Mattole Beach where Tribal members regularly gather for ceremony which approximately 1.5​

​

551​​hours drive over​

​

552​​narrow, often​

​

553​​single lane roads.​

​

554​​Lands are held in a​

​

555​​combination of​

​

556​​federal trust and​

​

557​​Tribal fee status,​

​

558​​with active efforts​

​

559​​to move additional​

​

560​​fee parcels into​

​

561​​trust. All figures in​

​

562​​this plan label the​

​

563​​planning area as​

​

564​​the Rancheria​

​

565​​Boundary.​

​

577​

​

578​

​

579​

​

580​

​

581​

​

582​

​

583​

​

584​

​

​85​

5

586​

​

​ PLACEHOLDER: Insert current parcel inventory table with acreage and trust/fee​

▶

​status for each parcel — Request sent to ENR 7/27/26​

​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​19​​of​​65​

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587​​3.5 Population and Vulnerable Populations​

​

​88​​The Rancheria is home to a small, close-knit community on California's North Coast (Census​

5

589​​geography: Rohnerville (Rancheria) Trust Lands, CA; GEOID 2500000US3220). The Tribal​

​

590​​government sustains housing, social services, child care, health programs, and emergency​

​

591​​services, and operates one of the region's largest private employers.​

​

T​

​92​​The Tribal community extends well beyond the Rancheria boundary. On-Rancheria residential​

5

593​​population is concentrated in Tish Non Village, Basayo Village, and Bear Paws Lane, in​

​

594​​neighborhoods that include multigenerational households, elders, and young children, with​

​

595​​additional daily population at the Tribal Day Care, across the government campus, and among​

​

596​​the workforce and visitors at the Bear River Casino Resort. Tribal citizens also live dispersed​

​

597​​throughout Humboldt County — including Arcata, McKinleyville, and coastal tsunami hazard​

​

598​​zones — and across the continental United States. This dispersal is not a neutral demographic​

​

599​​fact: it is a direct legacy of the dispossession, termination, and displacement policies​

​

600​​documented in Section 3.2, and the Tribe accordingly treats reaching and protecting its​

​

601​​dispersed citizens as a matter of sovereignty and justice, not merely logistics.​

​

AF

​02​​Populations requiring specific planning consideration include: elders, including residents of elder​

6

603​​housing; households with access and functional needs (AFN); children in foster care​

​

604​​placements — a contemporary echo of the boarding school era, addressed in this plan through​

​

605​​a foster care emergency protocol; limited English proficiency (LEP) employees and community​

​

606​​members, a consideration reflected in the Tribe's alert and warning and workplace emergency​

​

607​​communication practices; residents of Bear Paws Lane (seven remaining units in an area facing​

​

608​​access constraints, with conversion and displacement planning underway); and day care and​

​

609​​youth program enrollees.​

​

​D

R

​10​​The community meets federal definitions of a disadvantaged population. The Rancheria and​

6

611​​surrounding area are identified as disadvantaged under the federal Climate and Economic​

​

612​​Justice Screening Tool, and the community experiences elevated social vulnerability across the​

​

613​​indicators most relevant to disaster outcomes: income constraints, housing concentration,​

​

614​​limited egress, and dependence on a small number of critical facilities. These conditions are not​

​

615​​incidental — they are the direct legacy of the policies documented in Section 3.2, which stripped​

​

616​​the Tribe of its land base and economic foundation for over a century. Mitigation investment on​

​

617​​the Rancheria therefore carries disproportionate protective value: a single hardened facility,​

​

618​​secured egress route, or resilient utility connection protects a far greater share of this​

​

619​​community than the same investment would elsewhere. This is the practical meaning of the​

​

620​​Tribe's guiding principle that healing the land heals the people.​

​

​21​​Specific population figures, facility occupancies, and functional and access needs registries are​

6

622​​maintained by the responsible Tribal departments and in the BRB Emergency Operations Plan​

​

623​​(July 2025), consistent with this plan's practice of retaining operationally sensitive detail outside​

​

624​​the public document.​

​

625​

​

626​

​

​27​

6

628​

​

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629​​3.6 Critical Facilities​

​

630​​Table 3-1: Critical Tribal Facilities​

​

​Hazard Notes​

​ ribal Administration​

T

​Office/Tish Non Community​

​Center​

​ ontinuity of government,​

C

​Community services; gathering​

​ R-4692-DR documented damage;​

D

​sprinklered​

​Recreation Center​

​ esignated emergency shelter​

D

​(County MOU); animal​

​sheltering ballfields​

​ R-4692-DR damage; generator and​

D

​30-day fuel identified as Priority action;​

​no-stake astroturf restriction during​

​Emergency use on Field​

​ ear River Casino Resort​

B

​(incl. hotel tower)​

​ rimary economic enterprise;​

P

​large assembly, non​

​congregate shelter -​

​warming/cooling/clean air​

​ ulti-story; no ladder apparatus in​

M

​first-due area; reclaimed water fire system​

​uncharacterized; active HMGP seismic​

​assessment​

​The Venue / The Epicenter​

​Large-assembly event venues​

​ ssembly occupancy; fire response gaps​

A

​apply​

​ ater Treatment Facility /​

W

​Tish Non water system​

​Potable water​

​ R-4692-DR damage; single tank; ~45​

D

​min sustained fire flow​

​ astewater Treatment Plant​

W

​(upgraded)​

​ astewater; reclaimed water​

W

​source​

​ yberattack (SCADA) exposure identified​

C

​in THIRA​

​Pump and Play fuel station​

​Tribal fuel supply​

​ riority resupply agreement identified as​

P

​mitigation action​

​Elders Village / Apartments​

​ lder and vulnerable resident​

E

​housing​

​Served by hydrant H-10 (retest pending)​

​Basayo Village​

​Residential​

​Population figure pending​

​ outh Development Center /​

Y

​Day Care​

​Children's services​

​ eunification planning with school​

R

​districts​

​ lectronic notification sign -​

E

​Deployable​

​Public alerting​

​ ompleted​​"Pandemic Mitigation Action​

C

​#2 - FY21 THMP​​”​

R

AF

T​

​Function​

​ PLACEHOLDER: Update total insured replacement value of Tribal assets with current figures. Request​

▶

​sent to TA 7/26/26​

​D

631​

​

​Facility​

​32​

6

633​

​

634​

​

635​

​

636​

​

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637​

​

638​​3.7 Transportation and Access​

​

668​

​

​D

669​

​

R

AF

T​

​39​​The main Rancheria is served by a single primary ingress/egress route via the Singley Hill​

6

640​​corridor connecting to US-101. This single-access condition is among the Tribe's most​

​

641​​consequential structural​

​

642​​vulnerabilities: any event​

​

643​​that blocks the route —​

​

644​​collision, slide, flooding,​

​

645​​wildfire, or seismic damage​

​

646​​— isolates the entire​

​

647​​community. The Singley Hill /​

​

648​​US-101 corridor is a​

​

649​​documented fatality corridor,​

​

650​​with five or more fatalities​

​

651​​per year in recent years. A​

​

652​​secondary egress route from​

​

653​​Bowie Road to Echo Lane​

​

654​​has been identified and is​

​

655​​developed as Mitigation​

​

656​​Action 5.6.22; preliminary​

​

657​​review indicates CEQA and​

​

658​​Clean Water Act Section 404​

​

659​​requirements given the​

​

660​​sloped, vegetated, and​

​

661​​seasonally wet terrain, with a​

​

662​​drainage culvert passing​

​

663​​beneath the highway. Bear​

​

664​​Paws Lane presents its own​

​

665​​access constraints for its​

​

666​​seven remaining residential​

​

667​​units​

​

670​

​

671​

​

672​

​

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673​

​

674​​3.8 Water Systems and Fire Protection Infrastructure​

​

675​​3.8.1 Tish Non Water System and February 2026 Hydrant Flow Test​

​

T​

​76​​In February 2026, the Tribe conducted its first-ever hydrant flow test of the Tish Non water​

6

677​​system. Testing was conducted on 16 hydrants per NFPA 291 standards using a calibrated​

​

678​​hydrant diffuser and single-hydrant methodology (one hydrant flowing, one capped with pitot​

​

679​​gauge). All 16 hydrants were confirmed operational following corrections made during the​

​

680​​testing process. Two hydrants — H-10 (Apartments area) and H-15 (265 Kiesner Road Parking​

​

681​​Lot) — required maintenance corrections and are pending flow-rate confirmation retesting; both​

​

682​​are confirmed flowing water.​

​

683​​Table 3-2: Hydrant Flow Test Summary — Tish Non Side (February 2026)​

​

​Location​

​Test Flow (GPM)​

​Fire Flow @ 20 PSI​

​Status​

​H-1​

​Top of Carroll​

​1,179​

​1,236​

​OK​

​H-2​

​65 Carroll Rd​

​1,468​

​2,619​

​OK​

​H-3​

​258 Carroll Rd​

​1,264​

​1,426​

​OK​

​H-4​

​323 Carroll Rd​

​1,382​

​2,843​

​OK​

​H-5​

​235 Bernard Rd​

​1,444​

​4,337​

​OK​

​H-6​

​325 Bernard Rd​

​1,444​

​3,443​

​OK​

​H-7​

​Bernard/Bowie Rd​

​1,444​

​2,662​

​OK​

​H-8​

​189 Bowie Rd​

​1,444​

​1,970​

​OK — threads tightened​

​H-9​

​End of Bowie​

​1,291​

​1,677​

​OK​

​H-10​

​Apartments​

​—​

​—​

​OK pending GPM​

​Bernard/Keisner Rd​

​1,222​

​2,342​

​OK​

​260 Kiesner Rd​

​1,179​

​1,733​

​OK​

​263 Kiesner Rd​

​1,236​

​1,677​

​OK​

​265 Kiesner Rd Roadway​

​1,236​

​7,107​

​OK​

​H-15​

​265 Kiesner Rd Parking Lot​

​—​

​—​

​OK pending GPM​

​H-16​

​120 Bowie Rd (ENR)​

​1,318​

​1,846​

​OK​

​H-12​

​H-13​

​D

​H-14​

R

​H-11​

AF

​Hydrant​

​84​

6

685​

​

686​

​

​ ource: BRB Office of Emergency Services Hydrant Test Report, February 2026. Prepared by​

S

​Amanda Gonzales, OES Manager. Testing conducted per NFPA 291. Flow values represent​

​single-hydrant test conditions.​

​87​​Water system tank capacity testing conducted concurrent with hydrant testing indicated​

6

688​​approximately 45 minutes of sustained flow time before significant tank depletion, with the tank​

​

689​​level dropping from approximately ⅓ capacity during the test period. No backup water source​

​

690​​has been identified for the Tish Non water system. Most major Tribal facilities, including the​

​

691​​Community Center and residential buildings, are equipped with fire sprinkler systems, which​

​

692​​reduce required suppression flow demand under normal conditions. Simultaneous multi-hydrant​

​

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​93​​demand — which a major fire event would require — remains untested and could reveal​

6

694​​pressure drop across the system.​

​

695​​3.8.2 Resort Reclaimed Water System​

​

​96​​The Bear River Casino Resort and associated Resort enterprises are served by a separate​

6

697​​reclaimed water system drawing from the upgraded WWTP. The specifications, storage​

​

698​​capacity, and fire flow characteristics of the Resort water system have not been formally​

​

699​​assessed as of the date of this plan. This is the Tribe's primary economic asset and operates on​

​

700​​a fire suppression water system that has not been characterized is itself a finding of this plan,​

​

701​​addressed as Mitigation Action 5.6.11.​

​

​ PLACEHOLDER: Obtain WWTP reclaimed water system specifications (storage​

▶

​capacity, pump ratings, distribution pressure, Resort-side hydrant locations) from​

​Public Works and Resort Facilities Management. Insert WWTP upgraded treatment​

​capacity in GPD.​

706​​3.9 Public Safety Services​

​

707​​3.9.1 Law Enforcement​

​

T​

​02​

7

703​

​

704​

​

705​

​

​13​

7

714​

​

AF

​08​​The Bear River Police Department is not currently active. Reinstatement of the department is a​

7

709​​Priority mitigation action (5.6.2), supported by the 2025 SPR which documents​

​

710​​law-enforcement-dependent capabilities at approximately 20 percent of target. Law enforcement​

​

711​​response currently depends on the Humboldt County Sheriff, with response times and​

​

712​​jurisdictional complexity on trust lands documented in Part Four.​

​

​ PLACEHOLDER: Confirm whether PD dissolution occurred by Council action or​

▶

​administratively — Tribal Administration/Council​

715​​3.9.2 Fire Protection​

​

R

​16​​Structural fire protection is provided by the Loleta Fire Department, a volunteer department that​

7

717​​holds jurisdictional fire authority (JHA) for the Rancheria area without formal documented​

​

718​​agreement with the Tribe. Dispatch is provided through the Fortuna Emergency Command​

​

719​​Center, managed by CAL FIRE. Formalizing the JHA relationship, pursuing supplemental​

​

720​​coverage for large-assembly venues, and — centrally — establishing a Tribal Fire Program​

​

721​​(Action 5.6.1, Priority 1) address these gaps.​

​

​D

722​​3.10 Emergency Operations and Alerting​

​

​23​​The Tribe does not currently have a dedicated Emergency Operations Center; EOC functions​

7

724​​have operated on an ad hoc, multi-use basis from shared facilities, a model documented in this​

​

725​​update as unsustainable. The Emergency Resilience Campus (Action 5.6.3), planned for Tribal​

​

726​​land adjacent to the Rancheria on the Singley Hill corridor, is the foundational response to this​

​

727​​gap, with near-term secure connex-box supply storage (Action 5.6.3a) as a 90-day interim​

​

728​​measure. Public alerting is provided through RAVE Mobile enrollment and the electronic​

​

729​​notification sign at the Tish Non Village entrance (completed 2021 action). Alerting reach, LEP​

​

730​​notification capability, and enrollment rates are addressed in Part Five.​

​

731​​3.11 Cultural Resources​

​

​32​​Cultural resources requiring protection in this plan include the Mattole Beach ceremonial​

7

733​​gathering area and the revived Salmon Ceremony; Tribal language programs; cultural and​

​

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​34​​ceremonial materials and regalia; and ancestral and archaeological sites within Tribal lands and​

7

735​​ancestral territory. Protection of cultural practice is treated in this plan as a mitigation outcome in​

​

736​​its own right under the Cultural Awareness pillar.​

​

​D

R

AF

T​

737​

​

​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​25​​of​​65​

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​PART FOUR: RISK ASSESSMENT​

738​

​

739​​4.1 Methodology​

​

​40​​This risk assessment identifies the hazards that can affect the Tribal planning area; describes​

7

741​​the type, location, and extent of each hazard; documents previous occurrences and the​

​

742​​probability of future events, including the effects of long-term changes in weather patterns; and​

​

743​​assesses impacts and vulnerability. Consistent with FEMA Region IX's 2022 review guidance,​

​

744​​tribal-specific data is presented as primary throughout this Part, with Humboldt County regional​

​

745​​data as supplemental context.​

​

T​

746​​4.2 Climate Change as a Force Multiplier​

​

AF

​47​​Climate change is addressed in this plan not as a standalone hazard but as a force multiplier​

7

748​​that increases the probability, intensity, or consequence of nearly every profiled hazard: more​

​

749​​intense atmospheric river events driving flooding and severe weather; extended drought cycles​

​

750​​stressing the well-dependent water supply and salmon habitat; elevated wildfire conditions; sea​

​

751​​level rise and king tide interaction affecting coastal and low-lying areas; and increased​

​

752​​frequency of utility Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events.​

​

753​​PSPS Risk Designation and Utility Outage History​

​

R

​54​​The Rancheria is not located within a CPUC High Fire-Threat District Tier 2 (Elevated) or Tier 3​

7

755​​(Extreme) area; local weather conditions at the Rancheria do not independently trigger Public​

​

756​​Safety Power Shutoff events. The Tribe's PSPS exposure is instead transmission-driven:​

​

757​​electricity reaches Humboldt County via transmission corridors along Highways 299 and 36 that​

​

758​​traverse high fire-threat terrain, and de-energization of those lines can interrupt power​

​

759​​countywide regardless of coastal conditions. This occurred twice in October 2019 (October 8–10​

​

760​​and October 26–29), when countywide PSPS events left the Rancheria and approximately​

​

761​​30,000 Humboldt County customers without power. In 2020, PG&E completed reconfiguration of​

​

762​​the Humboldt Bay Generating Station to operate in "island mode," energizing portions of the​

​

763​​county — including the Fortuna district serving the Rancheria — independently of the wider grid​

​

764​​during transmission-level events. No PSPS de-energization has affected the Rancheria since​

​

765​​the October 2019 events.​

​

​D

​66​​Source: CPUC High Fire-Threat District Map, adopted January 19, 2018, pursuant to D.17-12-024​

7

767​​(revised March 2021); verified July 2026. The Rancheria is not located within an HFTD Tier 2 (Elevated)​

​

768​​or Tier 3 (Extreme) fire-threat area.​

​

​69​​PG&E outage records for the Eel River 1102 distribution circuit serving the Rancheria (January​

7

770​​2022 – June 2026) document 11 sustained unplanned outages totaling approximately 4,109​

​

771​​minutes (68.5 hours), none attributable to PSPS:​

​

​Date​

​Cause​

​Duration (min)​

​Customers Affected​

​1/3/2022​

​Third party​

​1,128​

​1,619​

​6/4/2022​

​Vegetation (transmission)​

​32​

​1,623​

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​ nvironmental — M6.4 earthquake​

E

​(FEMA-4692-DR)​

​2,002​

​1,455​

​1/4/2023​

​Vegetation​

​146​

​1,530​

​3/27/2023​

​Vegetation​

​109​

​1,623​

​3/24/2024​

​Third party​

​30​

​1,631​

​12/5/2024​

​Environmental/external​

​222​

​1,591​

​12/13/2024​

​Equipment failure​

​20​

​1,577​

​1/4/2025​

​Vegetation​

​8/5/2025​

​Equipment failure​

​6/25/2026​

​Animal​

T​

​12/2/2022​

​199​

​1,635​

​70​

​1,624​

​151​

​1,627​

AF

​72​​The December 20, 2022 transmission-level outage began at 2:34 a.m., coinciding with the M6.4​

7

773​​Ferndale earthquake mainshock, and lasted approximately 33 hours — the longest interruption​

​

774​​in the record and a direct illustration of the earthquake–energy infrastructure cascade​

​

775​​addressed in the Energy Emergency Plan (Appendix F). Vegetation contact is the leading​

​

776​​recurring cause (4 of 11 events), consistent with the mitigation emphasis on vegetation​

​

777​​management and utility coordination.​

​

778​​Current Drought Status (U.S. Drought Monitor, July 2026)​

​

R

​79​​As of July 2026, the Rancheria lies within the D0 (Abnormally Dry) classification on the U.S.​

7

780​​Drought Monitor. Approximately 34.9 percent of Humboldt County's population (46,935 people)​

​

781​​is within a designated drought area, with D1 (Moderate Drought) conditions present in the​

​

782​​county's northern coastal zone. January–June 2026 ranked as the 15th driest year-to-date​

​

783​​period in 132 years of record, 14.07 inches below normal precipitation — underscoring that​

​

784​​near-normal individual months (June 2026 ranked 49th wettest) can mask significant cumulative​

​

785​​deficit.​

​

​D

​86​​Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA, and NOAA), Humboldt County​

7

787​​conditions via drought.gov; precipitation rankings from NOAA National Centers for Environmental​

​

788​​Information. Data as of July 2026​​.​

​

789​​4.3 Hazard Summary and Priority Rankings​

​

790​​Table 4-1: BRB Hazard Priority Rankings — 2026 Update​

​

​Priority​

​Hazard​

​Probability​

​Impact​

​Declared​

​Change from 2021​

​1​

​Earthquake​

​High​

​ igh —​

H

​documented DR​

​ es —​

Y

​ levated: three-event​

E

​FEMA-4692-​ ​December trilogy; direct​

​DR​

​declaration​

​2​

​ andemic /​

P

​Public Health​

​Moderate​

​ igh — full​

H

​closure​

​ ederal/Stat​

F

​e COVID​

​ ustained: COVID-19​

S

​impacts fully documented​

​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​27​​of​​65​

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​Hazard​

​Probability​

​Impact​

​Declared​

​Change from 2021​

​3​

​Fire / Wildfire​

​High​

​ igh —​

H

​compounding​

​gaps​

​No​

​ levated: significant new​

E

​vulnerabilities identified​

​4​

​ looding​

F

​(Localized)​

​Moderate-High​

​ oderate —​

M

​active failure​

​ o (BOR​

N

​active)​

​ levated: Whitchurch​

E

​engineering; six sites​

​documented​

​5​

​ limate Change /​

C

​Severe Weather​

​ igh​

H

​(increasing)​

​Moderate-High​

​No​

​ ustained: atmospheric​

S

​river impacts​

​documented​

​6​

​ rought / Water​

D

​Shortage​

​Moderate​

​Moderate​

​No​

​ ustained: no current​

S

​impacts; well-only​

​dependency​

​7​

​Tsunami​

​ ow-Moderate​

L

​(Mattole​

​Beach)​

​High if occurs​

​No​

​ ew: Mattole Beach;​

N

​December 2024 tsunami​

​alert​

​8​

​ ransportation /​

T

​Access​

​High — daily​

​ igh — 5+​

H

​fatalities/year​

​No​

​ ew: documented fatality​

N

​corridor; single access​

​route​

​9​

​Cyberattack​

​Moderate​

​ igh — $3.65M​

H

​exposure​

​No​

​ ew: THIRA​

N

​ransomware scenario;​

​WWTP at risk​

​10​

​Other Hazards​

​Low​

​Low-Moderate​

​No​

​Sustained​

793​

​

794​

​

​D

​95​

7

796​

​

797​

​

AF

792​

​

R

791​

​

T​

​Priority​

798​

​

799​

​

​00​

8

801​

​

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802​​4.4 Earthquake​

​

803​​Hazard Profile — Type, Location, Extent​

​

​04​​The Rancheria lies within one of the most seismically active regions in the continental United​

8

805​​States, near the Mendocino Triple Junction where the Cascadia Subduction Zone, San Andreas​

​

806​​system, and Mendocino Fault meet. The planning area is subject to strong ground shaking,​

​

807​​liquefaction in susceptible soils, landslide triggering, and — for a Cascadia event — near-field​

​

808​​tsunami affecting coastal areas where Tribal members live and gather. Extent is characterized​

​

809​​using moment magnitude and the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale; the December 20,​

​

810​​2022 event produced strong to very strong shaking (MMI VII range) in the Rancheria area.​

​

T​

811​​Table 4-2: Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (abridged)​

​

​Shaking​

​Typical Effects​

​IV​

​Light​

​Felt indoors by many; windows and dishes rattle​

​V​

​Moderate​

​Felt by nearly all; some dishes and windows broken​

​VI​

​Strong​

​Felt by all; some heavy furniture moved; slight damage​

​VII​

​Very strong​

​Considerable damage in poorly built structures; slight-to-moderate in well-built​

​VIII​

​Severe​

​IX+​

​Violent+​

AF

​MMI​

​Considerable damage in ordinary buildings; partial collapse​

​Significant damage even in well-designed structures​

812​

​

813​​Previous Occurrences — The December Trilogy​

​

R

​14​​The Tribe has experienced three significant December earthquakes in four years: December​

8

815​​2021, December 20, 2022, and December 2024. The December 20, 2022 magnitude 6.4​

​

816​​earthquake offshore of Ferndale caused documented damage across ten Tribal facilities —​

​

817​​including the Tish Non Community Center, Recreation Center (the designated emergency​

​

818​​shelter), Water Treatment Facility, and Resort facilities — and resulted in the Tribe's direct​

​

819​​Presidential Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA-4692-DR. The December 2024 event​

​

820​​additionally generated a tsunami alert affecting coastal areas where Tribal members live and​

​

821​​gather.​

​

​D

822​​Table 4-3: FEMA-4692-DR Public Assistance Project Worksheets — Confirmed Facility Damages​

​

​PW​

​Facility​

​FEMA Project No.​ F​ EMA-Approved Damage​

​Estimate ($)​

​1​

​Parking Lot / RTW​

​714344​

​12,590.14​

​2​

​Water Treatment Facility​

​714343​

​13,287.42​

​3​

​Social Services Building​

​714426​

​31,660.86​

​4​

​Recreation Center (REC)​

​714425​

​11,572.37​

​5​

​Tobacco Traders​

​714434​

​15,000.00​

​6​

​Pump & Play​

​714433​

​20,343.03​

​7​

​Family Engagement Center (FEC)​

​714430​

​17,269.21​

​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​29​​of​​65​

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​8​

​Gaming Office​

​714432​

​60,815.56​

​9​

​Tish Non Community Center​

​714429​

​70,703.19​

​10​

​Bear River Casino Resort​

​714342​

​323,842.95​

S​ ubtotal — Facility Damages (PW​

​1–10)​

​11​

​ ategory Z — Direct Administrative​

C

​Costs​

​577,084.73​

​826161​

​Total — FEMA-Approved Estimates​

​40,668.10​

​617,752.83​

827​

​

828​

​

​D

R

AF

​29​

8

830​​The December 20, 2022 M6.4​

​

831​​earthquake resulted in the Tribe’s​

​

832​​first Presidential disaster​

​

833​​declaration, FEMA-4692-DR.​

​

834​​Confirmed damages were​

​

835​​documented across ten Tribal​

​

836​​facilities through the FEMA Public​

​

837​​Assistance program, with​

​

838​​FEMA-approved estimates totaling​

​

839​​$577,084.73 in facility damages​

​

840​​and $617,752.83 including direct​

​

841​​administrative costs (Table 4-3).​

​

842​​Damages ranged from parking and​

​

843​​site infrastructure to the Water​

​

844​​Treatment Facility, Tish Non​

​

845​​Community Center, and the Bear​

​

846​​River Casino Resort — the facility​

​

847​​whose revenues sustain Tribal​

​

848​​government operations —​

​

849​​demonstrating that even moderate​

​

850​​structural damage distributed​

​

851​​across the government campus​

​

852​​carries compounding operational​

​

853​​and economic consequences for​

​

854​​the Tribe.​

​

T​

​23​​Source: FEMA-4692-DR Public Assistance grant files, Bear River Band OES / Grants Administration. Amounts reflect​

8

824​​FEMA-approved damage estimates; project period of performance extends through March 8, 2027. An additional completed​

​

825​​Project Worksheet (Basayo Apartments, $3,888.00) has been closed out. Cost-share detail is maintained in the Tribe’s Public​

​

826​​Assistance grant records.​

​

855​

​

856​

​

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857​

​

858​

​

​ robability, Impacts, and​

P

​Vulnerability​

​61​

8

862​

​

863​

​

864​

​

865​

​

866​

​

867​

​

868​

​

869​

​

870​

​

871​

​

872​

​

873​

​

874​

​

875​

​

876​

​

877​

​

878​

​

879​

​

880​

​

881​

​

882​

​

​ robability of damaging seismic​

P

​events is high; a full-margin​

​Cascadia Subduction Zone​

​rupture is the region's​

​catastrophic planning scenario.​

​Tribal vulnerability includes​

​unreinforced and pre-code​

​structures identified for​

​assessment under the active​

​HMGP-funded seismic​

​assessment project, the​

​multi-story Resort hotel tower​

​(assessment in progress), water​

​system components, and the​

​compounding effect of​

​single-route access if the Singley​

​Hill corridor is damaged. The​

​2026 THIRA earthquake​

​scenario establishes capability​

​targets that current capabilities​

​do not fully meet, per the 2025​

​SPR.​

885​

​

886​

​

887​

​

​D

888​

​

AF

884​

​

R

883​

​

T​

​59​

8

860​

​

889​

​

890​

​

​91​​ACTIVE VULNERABILITY: The approved $200,000 in FEMA Public Assistance funding​

8

892​​for facilities damaged in DR-4692-DR remains unspent pending contract execution as​

​

893​​of the date of this plan. Several facilities with documented earthquake damage have​

​

894​​not been fully repaired, including the designated emergency shelter (Recreation​

​

895​​Center). Contract execution is identified as Action 5.6.8 in Part Five.​

​

​96​

8

897​

​

898​

​

899​

​

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900​​4.5 Pandemic / Public Health Emergency​

​

​01​​The COVID-19 pandemic caused full closure of Tribal government and enterprise operations,​

9

902​​documented revenue interruption to the enterprise that funds Tribal government services, and​

​

903​​sustained public health protective operations. The Tribe developed a Pandemic Response Plan​

​

904​​(completed 2021 mitigation action) which is carried forward for maintenance and update as​

​

905​​Action 5.6.23. Probability of future pandemic or public health emergency is moderate; impact​

​

906​​severity is high, given the Tribe's dependence on a single large-assembly enterprise for​

​

907​​government revenue.​

​

​ PLACEHOLDER: Insert COVID-19 closure dates, duration, and federal assistance​

▶

​amounts (Finance / Resort).​

910​​4.6 Fire and Wildfire​

​

T​

​08​

9

909​

​

911​​Hazard Profile — Type, Location, and Extent​

​

AF

​12​​Under CAL FIRE's updated 2026 Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps, lands immediately​

9

913​​surrounding and adjoining the Rancheria are classified as Moderate. The Rancheria itself​

​

914​​carries no FHSZ designation — not because hazard is absent, but because trust lands are​

​

915​​Federal Responsibility Area, outside the State and Local Responsibility Areas that CAL FIRE's​

​

916​​FHSZ program maps. Because fuels, topography, and weather are continuous across the trust​

​

917​​land boundary, the Tribe treats the surrounding Moderate classification as the effective fire​

​

918​​hazard baseline for planning purposes. The mapping gap is itself a planning consideration:​

​

919​​hazard designations that drive building standards, defensible space enforcement, and mitigation​

​

920​​funding eligibility do not automatically extend to trust lands — reinforcing the importance of​

​

921​​Tribally led wildfire mitigation, including the Tribal Fire Program (Action 5.6.1).​

​

​D

R

​22​​The fire environment surrounding the Rancheria is mixed: grassy hillsides and brush, on and​

9

923​​adjacent to Tribal land, transitioning to continuous timber to the east and south — the terrain​

​

924​​carrying the Moderate classification that surrounds the Rancheria on three sides. Mature bull​

​

925​​pines along the Singley Hill corridor, identified by survey respondents as an existing hazard,​

​

926​​stand within reach of structures and the Tribe's single access road. Critically, the Rancheria lies​

​

927​​directly adjacent to U.S. Highway 101, one of the most heavily trafficked corridors on the North​

​

928​​Coast. Roadside ignition — vehicle fires, dragging chains and equipment, hot catalytic​

​

929​​converters over dry grass, and discarded smoking materials — is a well-documented wildfire​

​

930​​cause along major highways, and the 101 corridor places a continuous ignition source at the​

​

931​​base of the grassy slopes below Tribal homes and facilities. Extent is best expressed by fire​

​

932​​behavior potential: a wind-driven grass or brush fire starting at the highway shoulder or in the​

​

933​​Singley Hill corridor could reach structures and sever the sole egress route within the first​

​

934​​burning period, well inside the Loleta Fire Department's documented 20-plus-minute response​

​

935​​time. The Rancheria's exposure is therefore characterized less by acreage at risk than by the​

​

936​​coincidence of fuels, slope, a continuous roadside ignition source, and the single-access​

​

937​​configuration at the same location.​

​

​38​​While no wildfires have directly impacted the Rancheria since the last plan cycle, the Tribe has​

9

939​​identified a set of compounding structural fire protection vulnerabilities that collectively represent​

​

940​​a significant life safety concern, particularly given recent facility expansions and increased​

​

941​​occupancy.​

​

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942​​COMPOUNDING VULNERABILITY:​

​

​43​​The following fire protection gaps exist simultaneously at BRB Rancheria: (1) 20+ minute​

9

944​​documented response times; (2) no ladder apparatus for the multi-story Resort hotel; (3)​

​

945​​approximately 45 minutes of sustained fire flow before tank depletion; (4) Resort water system​

​

946​​fire flow uncharacterized; (5) JHA held by a volunteer department without formal agreement; (6)​

​

947​​no Tribal fire program; (7) single ingress/egress route. A major fire event at The Venue or Resort​

​

948​​during a large event would activate all of these vulnerabilities simultaneously.​

​

AF

​D

R

​50​​According to CAL​

9

951​​FIRE data, 634​

​

952​​wildfires burned in​

​

953​​Humboldt County​

​

954​​between 1910 and​

​

955​​2017, averaging​

​

956​​approximately two​

​

957​​fires per year with a​

​

958​​historical range of 0​

​

959​​to 17 fires annually.​

​

960​​Approximately 63​

​

961​​percent of wildfires in​

​

962​​Humboldt County​

​

963​​are caused by​

​

964​​human activity, with​

​

965​​electrical equipment​

​

966​​including power lines​

​

967​​and transformers a​

​

968​​frequent ignition​

​

969​​source. The 2020​

​

970​​August Complex fire​

​

971​​burned over​

​

972​​1,000,000 acres​

​

973​​including portions of​

​

974​​Humboldt County;​

​

975​​while the main​

​

976​​Rancheria was not​

​

977​​directly threatened,​

​

978​​smoke impacts and​

​

979​​the potential for​

​

980​​power infrastructure​

​

981​​ignition were​

​

982​​significant concerns.​

​

T​

949​​Previous Occurrences and Regional Wildfire History​

​

​83​​The 2020 fire season​

9

984​​also directly​

​

985​​engaged Tribal​

​

986​​resources: beginning​

​

987​​September 11, 2020, the Tribe operated an evacuation shelter at the Bear River Recreation​

​

988​​Center for regional fire evacuees, without regard to tribal affiliation (see Section 4.14).​

​

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989​​Probability​

​

999​​Impacts and Vulnerability​

​

T​

​90​​Probability of a wildfire directly affecting the Rancheria is moderate and rising. Humboldt​

9

991​​County's human-caused ignition share — approximately 63 percent — must be read against the​

​

992​​Rancheria's setting: a continuously trafficked federal highway at its doorstep, overhead electrical​

​

993​​infrastructure serving the Rancheria and Resort, and seasonal grass cure on adjacent slopes​

​

994​​each summer and fall. The absence of a wildfire on Rancheria lands during the planning period​

​

995​​reflects favorable coastal conditions, not the absence of exposure — the ignition sources are​

​

996​​permanent; only the receptive fuel conditions vary by season and year. Climate projections​

​

997​​increase probability over the planning period through extended dry seasons and deepening fuel​

​

998​​moisture stress, conditions that reach even the coastal zone in drought years (Section 4.9).​

​

1009​​Fire Flow Baseline​

​

AF

​000​​Impacts of a wildfire event would extend well beyond structure loss. Smoke is the demonstrated​

1

1001​​impact pathway: the 2020 fire season brought sustained hazardous air quality to the region,​

​

1002​​affecting elders, children, and residents with respiratory conditions. A fire in the Singley Hill or​

​

1003​​Highway 101 corridor would simultaneously threaten homes, compromise the only egress route,​

​

1004​​and endanger the Resort — the enterprise funding Tribal government operations — while​

​

1005​​cultural sites and gathering places on and near Tribal land are irreplaceable in a way structure​

​

1006​​valuation cannot capture. Vulnerability concentrates in the same singularities identified in​

​

1007​​Section 4.15: one road out, one water tank, approximately 45 minutes of fire flow, and no Tribal​

​

1008​​fire program — precisely the gaps Actions 5.6.1, 5.6.4, and 5.6.22 address.​

​

R

​010​​The February 2026 hydrant flow test (Section 3.8.1) established the fire suppression baseline:​

1

1011​​approximately 45 minutes of sustained flow before significant tank depletion, no identified​

​

1012​​backup water source for the Tish Non system, and an uncharacterized Resort reclaimed water​

​

1013​​system. Sprinkler coverage in major facilities reduces demand for single-structure fires; a major​

​

1014​​or multi-structure event would exceed the documented capacity, particularly if Loleta FD​

​

1015​​response is delayed beyond its documented 20-minute time.​

​

​D

​016​​The Tribal Fire Program (Action 5.6.1) is this plan's Priority 1 mitigation action. Its priority​

1

1017​​reflects not only suppression capability but the pillars themselves: workforce development for​

​

1018​​Tribal members, cultural fire practice and land stewardship, and assertion of Tribal authority​

​

1019​​over public safety on trust lands. Healing the land heals the people — and returning fire to its​

​

1020​​proper cultural and ecological role on Tribal land is central to that healing.​

​

1021​

​

1022​

​

1023​

​

1024​

​

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1025​​4.7 Flooding (Localized and Riverine)​

​

1026​​Hazard Profile​

​

​027​​Flood risk at BRB has two distinct components. Regional riverine flooding is associated with the​

1

1028​​Eel River system and atmospheric river events, with king tide interaction affecting low-lying​

​

1029​​areas. Localized flooding on the Rancheria itself is now engineering-documented: Whitchurch​

​

1030​​Engineering, Inc. (Jeffrey Laikam, PE, RCE #68586) conducted initial flooding inspections under​

​

1031​​Project No. BRB2401, documented in a scoping letter dated March 7, 2024, identifying six​

​

1032​​distinct flooding sites on Tribal lands.​

​

T​

​033​​Critically, the Whitchurch assessment identified systemic infrastructure maintenance​

1

1034​​governance failure — the absence of an assigned owner and inspection cycle for culverts and​

​

1035​​drainage infrastructure — as a root cause common to the six sites. This plan corrects that​

​

1036​​governance gap directly: the Pre-Storm Culvert and Drainage Inspection Protocol (Appendix I)​

​

1037​​assigns annual September inspection responsibility to Public Works and Facilities, with OES​

​

1038​​receiving the annual report and holding escalation authority for deferred maintenance.​

​

1039​​Table 4-3: Whitchurch Engineering BRB2401 — Documented Flooding Sites (March 2024)​

​

​Condition Documented​

​Site 1​

​ ravel access road floods where a headwall (with a​

G

​likely buried culvert, inlet inaccessible) receives runoff​

​from a degraded uphill stone-lined swale. The poorly​

​infiltrating hillside adds runoff; uphill soils become​

​saturated or under standing water​

​ OR R25AP00342 - Under​

B

​Design. Construction FY 26.​

​$200,000 change order requiring​

​funding​

​Site 2​

​ he gaming office, southeast of the casino, predates the​

T

​uphill parking lot to the northeast; runoff from the lot's​

​asphalt now sheets across the lawn and ponds against​

​the building's foundation and siding.​

​ OR R25AP00342 - Under​

B

​Design. Construction FY 26.​

​$200,000 change order requiring​

​funding​

​Site 3​

​ ownhome runoff between Highway 101 and Bowie​

T

​Road drains via curb cuts and three swales to a rear​

​retention area. Two swales are overgrown and likely​

​unlined; grading to the swale inlets is poorly sloped and​

​doesn't drain positively.​

​ OR R25AP00342 - Under​

B

​Design. Construction FY 26.​

​$200,000 change order requiring​

​funding​

​ bermed wetland east of the parcel pushes outflow​

A

​toward the buildings; the existing French drain diverts it​

​but runs constantly, and soils behind it stay saturated.​

​Downspouts add significant non-infiltrating water.​

​ OR R25AP00342 - Under​

B

​Design. Construction FY 26.​

​$200,000 change order requiring​

​funding​

​Site 5​

​ he residence at 352 Brenard Way sits downhill of its​

T

​driveway and hillside, flooding the garage; the existing​

​drain line hasn't prevented saturation around the​

​building, which is flat-graded to the foundation.​

​ OR R25AP00342 - Under​

B

​Design. Construction FY 26.​

​$200,000 change order requiring​

​funding​

​Site 6​

​ he alley's drainage system between the east and west​

T

​ends of Carroll Road has broadly failed: the swale is​

​overgrown and soil-filled, all culverts are silted in, and​

​south-side building drain pipes are silted, possibly​

​broken, undersized and not installed per plans.​

​ OR R25AP00342 - Under​

B

​Design. Construction FY 26.​

​$200,000 change order requiring​

​funding​

R

​D

​Site 4​

​Status​

AF

​Site​

1040​

​

1041​

​

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​D

R

AF

T​

​042​​Previous occurrences include recurring seasonal flooding at the six documented sites, culvert​

1

1043​​overflow events, and flooding of the gaming office (a former Tribal residential structure). The​

​

1044​​probability of continued localized flooding is moderate-to-high until infrastructure improvements​

​

1045​​and the inspection governance protocol are fully implemented; atmospheric river intensification​

​

1046​​increases both probability and consequence over the planning period. Infrastructure​

​

1047​​improvements at the documented sites are funded under Bureau of Reclamation Agreement No.​

​

1048​​R25AP00342 and are in design development (see Part 5, Mitigation Action #11).​

​

1049​

​

​050​

1

​Access and functional needs (AFN) households are present in the localized flood-affected​

1051​

​

​area, including subgrade residential structures. Flooding at these sites is a life-safety issue,​

1052​

​

​not only a property issue.​

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1053​

​

1054​​4.8 Severe Weather and Climate Change​

​

1062​​4.9 Drought and Water Shortage​

​

T​

​055​​Atmospheric river storms deliver some of the highest rainfall totals in California to the region,​

1

1056​​producing high wind, sustained heavy rain, flooding, slides, and extended power outages,​

​

1057​​including PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff events. Severe weather is a high-probability​

​

1058​​annual occurrence with moderate-to-high impact, and climate change is increasing both​

​

1059​​frequency and intensity. Mitigation is addressed through the Energy Emergency Plan (Appendix​

​

1060​​F), generator and fuel actions (5.6.5, 5.6.15), the severe weather training module (Appendix H),​

​

1061​​and the culvert inspection protocol (Appendix I).​

​

1070​

​

1071​

​

1072​

​

1073​

​

​074​

1

1075​

​

1076​

​

​D

1077​

​

R

1069​

​

AF

​063​​Drought classification follows the U.S. Drought Monitor scale from None through D0​

1

1064​​(Abnormally Dry), D1 (Moderate), D2 (Severe), D3 (Extreme), and D4 (Exceptional Drought).​

​

1065​​The Tribal water supply is entirely groundwater-well dependent with no identified backup source,​

​

1066​​making extended drought a direct water security threat even absent current impacts. Drought​

​

1067​​also directly threatens Mattole River salmon habitat — and with it the cultural practice the​

​

1068​​Salmon Ceremony restored. A Drought Contingency Plan is carried forward as Action 5.6.21.​

​

​078​

1

1079​

​

1080​

​

1081​

​

1082​

​

1083​

​

1084​

​

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1085​​4.10 Tsunami and Coastal Hazards​

​

​D

R

AF

T​

​086​​The Mattole Beach ceremonial gathering area is directly exposed to both distant-source and​

1

1087​​near-field tsunami. A near-field Cascadia event could provide only minutes of natural warning​

​

1088​​(strong ground​

​

1089​​shaking) before​

​

1090​​wave arrival,​

​

1091​​with no​

​

1092​​engineered​

​

1093​​warning​

​

1094​​infrastructure at​

​

1095​​the beach. The​

​

1096​​December 2024​

​

1097​​earthquake​

​

1098​​generated a​

​

1099​​tsunami alert​

​

1100​​affecting the​

​

1101​​coastal zone.​

​

1102​​Tribal members​

​

1103​​also reside in​

​

1104​​mapped coastal​

​

1105​​tsunami zones​

​

1106​​off-Rancheria.​

​

1107​​Because the​

​

1108​​revived Salmon​

​

1109​​Ceremony​

​

1110​​gathers the​

​

1111​​community at​

​

1112​​the shoreline,​

​

1113​​this hazard​

​

1114​​directly​

​

1115​​threatens both​

​

1116​​lives and an​

​

1117​​irreplaceable​

​

1118​​cultural practice;​

​

1119​​the Mattole​

​

1120​​Beach​

​

1121​​Emergency​

​

1122​​Protocol is​

​

1123​​Action 5.6.7,​

​

1124​​with the​

​

1125​​ceremonial site​

​

1126​​evacuation and​

​

1127​​warning plan as​

​

1128​​Action 5.6.20.​

​

1129​​The biannual​

​

1130​​frequency of​

​

1131​​gatherings​

​

1132​​places Mattole Beach actions below daily-exposure actions in priority order, while their cultural​

​

1133​​stakes keep them within the plan's core priorities.​

​

1134​

​

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1135​

​

1136​​4.11 Transportation and Access Hazards​

​

1165​

​

1166​

​

​D

1167​

​

R

AF

T​

​137​​The Singley Hill / US-101 corridor is a documented fatality corridor with five or more fatalities​

1

1138​​per year, and it is the​

​

1139​​Rancheria's only​

​

1140​​ingress/egress route.​

​

1141​​Daily probability of​

​

1142​​disruptive incidents is​

​

1143​​high. A single event —​

​

1144​​major collision, slide,​

​

1145​​flood, fire, or seismic​

​

1146​​damage — can​

​

1147​​simultaneously isolate​

​

1148​​the community and​

​

1149​​block emergency​

​

1150​​response in both​

​

1151​​directions. This​

​

1152​​hazard interacts with​

​

1153​​nearly every other​

​

1154​​hazard in this Part.​

​

1155​​Mitigation actions:​

​

1156​​Singley Hill corridor​

​

1157​​and secondary egress​

​

1158​​development (5.6.4),​

​

1159​​Bowie Road to Echo​

​

1160​​Lane secondary​

​

1161​​egress (5.6.22), and​

​

1162​​US-101 interchange​

​

1163​​safety improvements​

​

1164​​(5.6.4 component).​

​

1168​

​

1169​

​

1170​

​

1171​

​

1172​

​

1173​

​

1174​

​

1175​

​

1176​

​

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1177​​4.12 Cyberattack​

​

​178​​The 2026 THIRA ransomware scenario documents an estimated $3.65 million exposure across​

1

1179​​Tribal government and enterprise systems. Specific vulnerabilities include the casino gaming​

​

1180​​network, Tribal administrative IT, dependence on RAVE Mobile for public alerting, and industrial​

​

1181​​control (SCADA) systems at the upgraded Wastewater Treatment Plant. A successful attack on​

​

1182​​the WWTP would convert a cyber incident into a public health and environmental incident.​

​

1183​​Formalization of the Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan is Action 5.6.16. Operational​

​

1184​​security detail is maintained in the EOP and excluded from this public document.​

​

1185​​4.13 Other Hazards​

​

AF

1192​​4.14 Tribal Capability Assessment​

​

T​

​186​​Additional hazards profiled at lower priority include: landslide and slope erosion (Bear Creek​

1

1187​​bank erosion documented under the Whitchurch scope; slope hazards adjacent to the​

​

1188​​Rancheria); hazardous materials incidents along the US-101 corridor; civil unrest or active​

​

1189​​threat associated with large-assembly enterprise operations (Action 5.6.26 maintains annual​

​

1190​​exercises); and energy shortage / extended utility outage (addressed by Appendix F and the​

​

1191​​microgrid pathway, Action 5.6.24).​

​

​193​​Pursuant to 44 CFR § 201.7(c)(3), this section evaluates the Tribe's pre- and post-disaster​

1

1194​​hazard management capabilities. Existing capabilities include: the Office of Emergency Services​

​

1195​​with dedicated Manager and Logistics Coordinator; the Emergency Operations Plan (July 2025);​

​

1196​​the THIRA/SPR assessment cycle; a Grants Management office administering federal awards​

​

1197​​under 2 CFR 200; the Recreation Center shelter MOU with Humboldt County; RAVE Mobile​

​

1198​​alerting; completed Pandemic Response Plan; Great ShakeOut participation two consecutive​

​

1199​​years; the Renewable Energy Coordinator position; and demonstrated direct federal disaster​

​

1200​​management under FEMA-4692-DR.​

​

​D

R

​201​​Demonstrated sheltering capability. The Tribe’s sheltering capability is proven, not theoretical.​

1

1202​​On September 11, 2020, during California’s historic wildfire season, the Tribe opened the Bear​

​

1203​​River Recreation Center as an evacuation shelter for community members displaced by regional​

​

1204​​fires, without regard to tribal affiliation. The operation provided four separated areas for larger​

​

1205​​families and socially distanced individual accommodations for up to 45 people, with adjacent​

​

1206​​outdoor space for tent camping and vehicle parking. The Tribe supplied hot and cold meals,​

​

1207​​cots, bedding, water, restrooms, showers, and COVID-19 protective measures — a congregate​

​

1208​​sheltering operation run under active pandemic protocols, demonstrating the capability to​

​

1209​​manage compounding hazards simultaneously. (Source: Bear River Band press release,​

​

1210​​September 11, 2020, via Lost Coast Outpost.)​

​

​211​​Capability gaps documented in the 2025 SPR and addressed by this plan include:​

1

1212​​law-enforcement-dependent capabilities at approximately 20 percent of target (no active PD); no​

​

1213​​Tribal fire program and no formalized JHA; no dedicated EOC; supply storage vulnerability​

​

1214​​(shared warehouse with theft and pest exposure); animal sheltering capability at 20 animals​

​

1215​​against a THIRA target of 50–200; foster care roster access protocol unresolved with Social​

​

1216​​Services; and the unexecuted PA contract. Tribal development regulation on trust lands includes​

​

1217​​CBC seismic standards for new construction (contractually required since January 1, 2022, with​

​

1218​​The Venue constructed to current code), with a BRIC code plus-up application extending​

​

1219​​land-use and code capabilities.​

​

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1220​​4.15 Overall Vulnerability Summary and Loss Estimation​

​

​221​​Across all hazards, the Tribe's defining vulnerability pattern is concentration and singularity: a​

1

1222​​single access road, a single water tank, a single revenue enterprise, a single shared shelter​

​

1223​​facility, and singular cultural sites. Mitigation strategy in Part Five is accordingly organized​

​

1224​​around redundancy, Tribal self-sufficiency, and governance clarity. Structure-level loss​

​

1225​​estimation is anchored by documented DR-4692-DR damages and insured replacement values.​

​

​226​

1

1227​

​

1228​

​

​ PLACEHOLDER: Insert updated total insured asset value and per-hazard loss​

▶

​estimation table once Finance provides current replacement values. Request sent to​

​TA Office 7/27/26​

​D

R

AF

T​

1229​

​

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​PART FIVE: MITIGATION STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN​

1230​

​

1231​​5.1 Strategy Framework​

​

​232​​The mitigation strategy is built on the four community pillars — Quality of Life, Self-Sufficiency,​

1

1233​​Sustainability, and Cultural Awareness — and the guiding philosophy that healing the land heals​

​

1234​​the people. The mitigation actions in this plan are conceived not as isolated projects, but as​

​

1235​​components of a unified vision for a Tribal community that is prepared, self-determined, and​

​

1236​​whole. Prioritization reflects Tribal values and institutional goals — workforce development and​

​

1237​​cultural healing are legitimate priority drivers — in addition to hazard probability and severity.​

​

T​

1238​​5.2 Regulatory Framework​

​

​Application in This Plan​

​44 CFR § 201.7​

​Tribal plan criteria; update requirements at § 201.7(d)(3)​

​DMA 2000 / Stafford Act § 203​

​Pre-disaster mitigation authority​

​Stafford Act § 404 (HMGP)​

​ ost-declaration mitigation funding; active seismic assessment​

P

​project​

AF

​Authority​

​Stafford Act § 406 (PA C–G)​

​ itigation within Public Assistance repairs; DR-4692-DR contract​

M

​(Action 5.6.8)​

​ andy Recovery Improvement Act​

S

​2013​

​ irect tribal declaration authority; government-to-government​

D

​submission​

​2 CFR Parts 200 / 3002​

​Federal award administration standards; assurances in Part Six​

​Executive Order 13175​

R

1239​

​

​Tribal consultation and coordination​

1240​​5.3 Status of 2021 THMP Mitigation Actions​

​

​D

​241​​44 CFR § 201.7(d)(3) requires the updated plan to document the status of actions from the​

1

1242​​previous plan, describe progress in mitigation efforts, and reflect changes in priorities. The​

​

1243​​following table summarizes each of the 15 actions from the 2021 THMP and its disposition in​

​

1244​​this update.​

​

1245​​Table 5-1: Status of 2021 THMP Mitigation Actions​

​

​#​

​2021 Action​

​Status​

​Disposition in This Plan​

​1​

​ evelop Pandemic​

D

​Response Plan​

​Completed​

​Plan on file; carried forward for update as Action 5.6.23​

​2​

I​nstall electronic emergency​ ​Completed​

​notification sign at Tish Non​

​Village entrance​

​ ocumented as completed; RAVE integration under​

D

​Action 5.6.9; see 5.6.18​

​3​

​ ew buildings meet CBC​

N

​seismic standards​

​ ngoing contractual requirement; The Venue built to​

O

​current code; BRIC code plus-up; carried forward under​

​Actions 5.6.1 / 5.6.6​

​In Progress​

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​2021 Action​

​Status​

​Disposition in This Plan​

​4​

​ eview/retrofit critical​

R

​buildings for earthquake​

​safety​

​In Progress​

​ R-4692-DR documented damages; BRIC and PA​

D

​addressing; carried forward as Actions 5.6.6 and 5.6.8​

​5​

​ arthquake preparedness​

E

​in employee training​

​Ongoing​

​ reat ShakeOut participation two consecutive years;​

G

​carried forward as Action 5.6.17​

​6​

​ ire/wildfire preparedness​

F

​in employee training​

​Ongoing​

​ R completed; cultural fire being pursued; JHA​

P

​complications noted; carried forward as Actions 5.6.1​

​and 5.6.19​

​7​

​ esort/Community Center​

R

​as evacuation/command​

​center​

​In Progress​

​ ulti-use model not sustainable; independent EOC​

M

​identified as priority; carried forward as Action 5.6.3​

​(Emergency Resilience Campus)​

​8​

​ oluntary safety personnel​

V

​evaluated/trained​

​Partial​

​ raining occurred; volunteer availability gap (family/work​

T

​obligations) documented; carried forward as Action​

​5.6.17​

​9​

​ unding applied for​

F

​microgrid/electrical​

​resilience​

​In Progress​

​ enewable Energy Coordinator established; carried​

R

​forward as Action 5.6.24​

​10​

​ unding applied for Drought​ ​In Progress​

F

​Contingency Plan​

​Funding being pursued; carried forward as Action 5.6.21​

​11​

​ re-Flood Hazard​

P

​Reduction Plan developed​

​ ot​

N

​Developed​

​ OR R25AP00342 addresses primary vulnerability;​

B

​carried forward as Action 5.6.12​

​12​

​ evere weather​

S

​preparedness in employee​

​training​

​ ot​

N

​Developed​

​ arried forward as Action 5.6.17; training module​

C

​drafted (Appendix H)​

​13​

​ isaster supply kits​

D

​purchased​

​Partial​

​ urchased multiple times; storage vulnerability (shared​

P

​warehouse, theft/pest risk); carried forward as Action​

​5.6.3a (dedicated secure storage)​

​14​

​ unding applied for Energy​

F

​Emergency Plan​

​ ot​

N

​Developed​

​ o application submitted; carried forward as Actions​

N

​5.6.3 and 5.6.5; Energy Emergency Plan drafted​

​(Appendix F)​

​15​

​ et and Service Animal​

P

​Emergency Plan developed​

​ ot​

N

​Developed​

​ ed Cross now requires animal shelter accounting; SPR​

R

​shows 10% capability; carried forward as Action 5.6.13;​

​plan drafted (Appendix G)​

​D

R

AF

T​

​#​

1246​

​

​247​

1

1248​

​

​ er FEMA 2022 review note (Element C-4): responsible parties are identified for every action in this​

P

​update, including the two 2021 actions previously lacking assignment.​

1249​​5.4 Prioritization Criteria​

​

​250​​Actions are prioritized using three weighted criteria: (1) life safety and hazard consequence​

1

1251​​reduction; (2) advancement of the four community pillars, including workforce development,​

​

1252​​sovereignty, and cultural healing; and (3) implementation feasibility, including funding availability​

​

1253​​and shovel-readiness. Consistent with FEMA guidance, timelines are expressed in general​

​

1254​​terms (anticipated start year and duration) rather than fixed dates.​

​

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1255​​5.5 Goals and Objectives​

​

​256​​The three plan goals (Section 1.6) are implemented through objectives spanning: life safety and​

1

1257​​alerting; fire protection and Tribal fire capability; law enforcement reinstatement; emergency​

​

1258​​facility and supply infrastructure; access and egress redundancy; water security and fire flow;​

​

1259​​energy resilience; flood infrastructure and maintenance governance; cultural site protection;​

​

1260​​vulnerable population protocols (AFN, foster care, LEP, animals); cyber resilience; and​

​

1261​​continuity of government and enterprise.​

​

1262​​5.6 Mitigation Actions — Detail Sheets​

​

1263​​Action 5.6.1 — Tribal Fire Program — Phase 1 (Priority 1)​

​

​Field​

AF

T​

​264​​Establish a Bear River Band Tribal Fire Program. Phase 1 encompasses program design, initial​

1

1265​​workforce recruitment and training of Tribal members, equipment planning, cultural fire practice​

​

1266​​integration, and formalization of relationships with surrounding departments. This action is​

​

1267​​Priority 1 not because fire is the most frequent hazard, but because the program simultaneously​

​

1268​​closes the plan's most dangerous compounding vulnerability set (Section 4.6), creates career​

​

1269​​pathways for Tribal members, restores cultural fire to Tribal land stewardship, and asserts Tribal​

​

1270​​authority over public safety on trust lands. Workforce development and cultural healing are the​

​

1271​​point, not side effects: healing the land heals the people.​

​

​Detail​

​Priority​

​1 — Highest priority action in this plan​

​Hazards Addressed​

​Pillars​

​Fire/wildfire; severe weather; earthquake (response); all-hazards capability​

​All four — Self-Sufficiency and Cultural Awareness lead​

​Lead​

​Office of Emergency Services / Tribal Administration​

​Loleta FD; CAL FIRE; Fortuna Fire; BIA; neighboring tribal fire programs​

R

​Partners​

​Timeline​

​ nticipated start within one year of plan approval; Phase 1 duration approx. 2​

A

​years​

​Est. Cost / Funding​

​ hase 1 planning and initial capability — HMGP/BRIC planning and​

P

​capacity-building eligible; BIA​

​D

1272​

​

1273​​Action 5.6.2 — Bear River Police Department Reinstatement​

​

​274​​Reinstate the Bear River Police Department. The 2025 SPR documents​

1

1275​​law-enforcement-dependent capabilities at approximately 20 percent of target. Reinstatement​

​

1276​​restores Tribal jurisdiction over public safety on trust lands, reduces dependence on county​

​

1277​​response times, and supports every response-phase capability in the THIRA.​

​

​Field​

​Detail​

​Priority​

​1​

​Hazards Addressed​

​All-hazards response; civil unrest/active threat; access control​

​Pillars​

​Self-Sufficiency; Quality of Life​

​Lead​

​Tribal Administration / Tribal Council​

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​Field​

​Detail​

​Partners​

​Humboldt County Sheriff; BIA Office of Justice Services​

​Timeline​

​Anticipated start within planning cycle; duration 2–3 years​

​Est. Cost / Funding​

​BIA; DOJ tribal justice programs; Tribal funds​

1278​

​

1279​​Action 5.6.3 — Emergency Resilience Campus — Singley Hill Corridor​

​

​Detail​

​Priority​

AF

​Field​

T​

​280​​Develop a dedicated Emergency Resilience Campus on Tribal land adjacent to the Rancheria​

1

1281​​on the Singley Hill corridor, providing: a dedicated Emergency Operations Center (correcting the​

​

1282​​ad hoc multi-use model documented as unsustainable), secure emergency supply storage,​

​

1283​​staging and logistics space, training facilities for the Tribal Fire Program and volunteers, and​

​

1284​​backup power. The campus is this plan's foundational response to the​

​

1285​​concentration-and-singularity vulnerability pattern identified in Section 4.15. The need is not​

​

1286​​hypothetical: the Tribe’s only proven mass care facility, the Bear River Recreation Center,​

​

1287​​sustained damage in the December 2022 earthquake (FEMA-4692-DR PW #714425) —​

​

1288​​purpose-built, seismically resilient capacity on the Singley Hill corridor closes that exposure.​

​

​1 — Foundational infrastructure gap​

​Hazards Addressed​

​Pillars​

​All hazards — EOC, sheltering support, supply logistics, training​

​Self-Sufficiency; Sustainability; Quality of Life; Cultural Awareness​

​Lead​

​Office of Emergency Services / Tribal Administration​

​Partners​

​Grants Management; Public Works and Facilities; Tribal Council​

​Phased; site planning start within 1–2 years; multi-year build-out​

R

​Timeline​

​Est. Cost / Funding​

​HMGP; BRIC; BIA; EDA; Tribal capital​

1289​​Action 5.6.4 — Singley Hill Corridor and Secondary Egress Program​

​

​D

​290​​Address the single-access vulnerability and the documented US-101/Singley Hill fatality corridor​

1

1291​​(five or more fatalities per year) through interchange safety improvements, corridor advocacy​

​

1292​​with Caltrans, and development of secondary egress capability. Companion detail on the Bowie​

​

1293​​Road to Echo Lane route is in Action 5.6.22.​

​

​Field​

​Detail​

​Priority​

​1​

​Hazards Addressed​

​Transportation/access; all hazards (evacuation and response access)​

​Pillars​

​Quality of Life; Self-Sufficiency​

​Lead​

​Public Works and Facilities / OES​

​Partners​

​Caltrans; Humboldt County; BIA Roads​

​Timeline​

​Corridor safety advocacy immediate; egress engineering multi-year​

​Est. Cost / Funding​

​HMGP; BRIC; BIA Roads; Caltrans safety programs​

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1294​​Action 5.6.5 — Recreation Center Generator and 30-Day Fuel Capability​

​

​295​​Equip the Recreation Center — the designated County-MOU emergency shelter — with​

1

1296​​permanent standby generation and fuel capability supporting extended operations. The 2026​

​

1297​​THIRA establishes a 7-day outage capability threshold; this action builds toward the 30-day​

​

1298​​scenario addressed in the Energy Emergency Plan (Appendix F).​

​

​Detail​

​Priority​

​1​

​Hazards Addressed​

​Severe weather/PSPS; earthquake; all hazards (sheltering)​

​Pillars​

​Self-Sufficiency; Quality of Life​

​Lead​

​Office of Emergency Services / Office of Energy Services​

​Partners​

​Humboldt County (shelter MOU); PG&E​

​Timeline​

​Start within 1 year; approx. 1–2 years​

​Est. Cost / Funding​

​HMGP 5% initiative / BRIC; generator grant​

T​

​Field​

AF

1299​​Action 5.6.6 — Resort Seismic Assessment (Active HMGP Project)​

​

​300​​Complete the active HMGP-funded seismic assessment of Resort and critical Tribal structures,​

1

1301​​producing prioritized retrofit recommendations that will feed the next round of BRIC/HMGP​

​

1302​​construction applications.​

​

​Field​

​Detail​

​Priority​

​1 — In progress​

​Hazards Addressed​

​Lead​

​Self-Sufficiency; Sustainability​

R

​Pillars​

​Earthquake​

​Grants Management / Facilities​

​FEMA HMGP; engineering consultant​

​Timeline​

​Active; per HMGP period of performance​

​Est. Cost / Funding​

​HMGP (active award)​

​D

​Partners​

1303​​HMGP - 4692 - Seismic Retrofit and Slope Stabilization Project​

​

1304​​Action 5.6.7 — Mattole Beach Emergency Protocol​

​

​305​​Establish an emergency protocol for Tribal gatherings at Mattole Beach, including pre-gathering​

1

1306​​hazard briefing, natural-warning evacuation trigger (ground shaking = immediate move to high​

​

1307​​ground), designated evacuation routes and assembly point, and communications procedures for​

​

1308​​a location with limited coverage. The THIRA tsunami scenario informs capability targets.​

​

1309​​Frequency of gatherings is biannual, which places this below daily-exposure actions in​

​

1310​​sequence — but the ceremony's cultural stakes, documented in Section 3.2, make its protection​

​

1311​​a core commitment of this plan. Companion action 5.6.20 develops the full ceremonial site​

​

1312​​evacuation and warning plan. A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study and technical assistance​

​

1313​​project focused on the Mattole Beach area and the Salmon Ceremony is underway, engaging​

​

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​314​​the Mattole Restoration Council and Mattole Salmon Group on watershed restoration relevant to​

1

1315​​the site.​

​

​Detail​

​Priority​

​2​

​Hazards Addressed​

​Tsunami; coastal hazards; earthquake (near-field)​

​Pillars​

​Cultural Awareness; Quality of Life​

​Lead​

​Office of Emergency Services / Cultural Programs​

​Partners​

​ umboldt County OES; NOAA/NWS; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Mattole​

H

​Beach study and technical assistance project); Mattole Restoration Council;​

​Mattole Salmon Group; Lost Coast League​

​Timeline​

​Protocol within 1 year; drills at gatherings thereafter​

​Est. Cost / Funding​

​Minimal — planning; HMGP/BRIC planning eligible​

T​

​Field​

1316​

​

AF

1317​​Action 5.6.8 — FEMA-4692-DR Public Assistance Contract Execution​

​

​318​​Execute the approved but unexecuted Public Assistance contract under FEMA-4692-DR and​

1

1319​​complete repairs to earthquake-damaged facilities, including the designated emergency shelter.​

​

1320​​Approved federal funding left unspent while damaged facilities remain unrepaired is both a risk​

​

1321​​and a compliance exposure; this action closes it.​

​

​Field​

​Detail​

​Priority​

​1 — Administrative urgency​

​Hazards Addressed​

​Lead​

​Self-Sufficiency​

R

​Pillars​

​Earthquake (repair of documented damage)​

​Grants Management / Tribal Administration​

​FEMA Region IX PA​

​Timeline​

​Immediate​

​Est. Cost / Funding​

​ pproved PA funding — FEMA share $476,092.04 across 11 Project​

A

​Worksheets (Section 4.4) — unobligated​

​D

​Partners​

1322​

​

1323​​5.7 Mitigation Actions 9 through 26​

​

​324​​The following actions complete the 26-action portfolio. Each is developed with lead​

1

1325​​responsibility, pillar alignment, and funding pathway; full implementation detail follows the same​

​

1326​​structure as Actions 1–8.​

​

1327​​Table 5-2: Mitigation Actions 9–26 — Summary Detail​

​

​#​

​Action​

​Pillar(s)​

​Priority​

​Lead​

​Scope​

​9​

​ AVE Mobile Enrollment​

R

​Drive​

​ uality of​

Q

​Life​

​2​

​OES​

​ ommunity-wide alerting enrollment​

C

​campaign; integration with electronic​

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​#​

​Action​

​Pillar(s)​

​Priority​

​Lead​

​Scope​

​ ign; annual enrollment events​

s

​including live enrollment during training​

​(Appendix H).​

​ oster Care Emergency​

F

​Protocol​

​ uality of​

Q

​Life​

​2​

​ ocial​

S

​Service​

​s / OES​

​ stablish emergency accountability​

E

​and reunification protocol for Tribal​

​children in foster placements — a​

​direct answer to the​

​boarding-school-era legacy​

​documented in Section 3.2.​

​11​

​ esort Water System Fire​

R

​Flow Assessment​

​ elf-Sufficien​ ​2​

S

​cy​

​ ublic​

P

​Works /​

​Resort​

​Facilitie​

​s​

​ haracterize the reclaimed water​

C

​system serving the Resort: storage,​

​pumps, pressure, hydrants; establish​

​fire flow baseline and backup storage​

​need.​

​12​

​ tormwater Infrastructure​

S

​and Maintenance​

​Governance​

​Sustainability​ ​1​

​ ublic​

P

​Works​

​and​

​Facilitie​

​s​

I​mplement BOR R25AP00342​

​improvements at Whitchurch sites;​

​adopt Appendix I inspection protocol;​

​BRIC code plus-up land-use​

​provisions; Bear Paws Lane conversion​

​protocol.​

​13​

​ et and Service Animal​

P

​Emergency Plan​

​Implementation​

​14​

​ EP Emergency​

L

​Notification Capability​

​15​

​ ump and Play Priority​

P

​Fuel Resupply Agreement​

​ elf-Sufficien​ ​2​

S

​cy​

​ ES /​

O

​ ormal priority resupply agreement​

F

​Enterpri​ ​with fuel distributor; implements the​

​se​

​fuel rationing hierarchy (Appendix F) —​

​gaming within Priority 1 because​

​gaming revenue funds all government​

​services.​

​16​

​ ybersecurity Incident​

C

​Response Plan​

​Formalization​

​ elf-Sufficien​ ​3​

S

​cy​

I​nforma​

​tion​

​Technol​

​ogy​

​ ormalize incident response for​

F

​government, gaming, and WWTP​

​SCADA environments; THIRA $3.65M​

​scenario is the planning basis; detail​

​retained in EOP.​

​17​

​ omprehensive​

C

​All-Hazards Training​

​Program​

​ uality of​

Q

​Life​

​ ES /​

O

​HR​

​ nified annual training consolidating​

U

​2021 Actions 5, 6, 8, and 12:​

​earthquake (Great ShakeOut), fire,​

​severe weather (Appendix H),​

​volunteer development — with the​

​documented volunteer availability gap​

​addressed through paid-time and​

​incentive design.​

AF

T​

​10​

​3​

​OES​

I​mplement Appendix G: ballfield​

​sheltering with weighted no-stake​

​fencing, 50-animal initial capacity,​

​county Animal Control coordination,​

​reunification.​

​ uality of​

Q

​Life​

​2​

​ ES /​

O

​HR​

​ ultilingual alerting and materials for​

M

​LEP employees and community​

​members; Title VI obligation noted.​

​D

R

​ uality of​

Q

​Life​

​2​

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​Action​

​Pillar(s)​

​Priority​

​Lead​

​Scope​

​18​

​ lectronic Notification Sign​

E

​— Sustainment​

​ uality of​

Q

​Life​

​3​

​OES​

​ ompleted 2021 action; sustain,​

C

​maintain, and integrate with RAVE​

​alerting.​

​19​

J​ HA Review,​

​Formalization, and​

​Sovereignty​

​Documentation​

​ elf-Sufficien​ ​1​

S

​cy / Cultural​

​Awareness​

​ ribal​

T

​Adminis​

​tration /​

​OES​

​ ormalize the Loleta FD JHA in written​

F

​agreement; document Tribal​

​jurisdictional authority on trust lands;​

​pursue supplemental coverage​

​agreement with Fortuna Fire for the​

​hotel tower and large-assembly​

​venues.​

​20​

​ attole Beach Ceremonial​

M

​Site Evacuation and​

​Warning Plan​

​ ultural​

C

​Awareness /​

​Quality of​

​Life​

​ ES /​

O

​Cultural​

​Progra​

​ms​

​ ull evacuation route survey, assembly​

F

​point designation, signage/warning​

​approach appropriate to the site, and​

​drill integration with gatherings.​

​21​

​Drought Contingency Plan​

​Sustainability​ ​2​

​ ublic​

P

​Works /​

​ENR​

​ evelop plan addressing​

D

​well-dependent supply, conservation​

​triggers keyed to Drought Monitor​

​stages, and salmon habitat​

​coordination.​

​22​

​ owie Road to Echo Lane​

B

​Secondary Egress​

​ uality of​

Q

​Life​

​2​

​ ublic​

P

​Works​

​and​

​Facilitie​

​s​

​ ngineer and permit the identified​

E

​secondary egress route. Terrain is​

​sloped, vegetated, and seasonally wet​

​with a culvert passing beneath the​

​highway; CEQA and CWA §404​

​compliance anticipated — a cost and​

​schedule factor, not a bar. Animal​

​underpass co-benefit identified.​

​23​

​ andemic Response Plan​

P

​— Maintenance and​

​Update​

​ uality of​

Q

​Life​

​3​

​OES​

​ pdate the completed plan with​

U

​COVID-19 lessons learned; annual​

​review cycle.​

​24​

​Tribal Microgrid — Phase 1​ ​Sustainability​ ​3​

​D

R

AF

​2​

T​

​#​

​ enew​ L

R

​ ong-term (5+ year) energy​

​able​

​sovereignty pathway; Phase 1​

​Energy​ ​feasibility and funding development.​

​Coordin​

​ator​

​25​

​ etrolia Parcel Hazard​

P

​Assessment​

​Sustainability​ ​3​

​ ES /​

O

​ENR​

​26​

​ ctive Threat / Civil Unrest​

A

​Plan — Annual Exercise​

​ uality of​

Q

​Life​

​ ES /​

O

​ aintain and exercise annually for​

M

​Enterpri​ ​large-assembly enterprise operations;​

​se​

​operational detail in EOP.​

​Security​

​3​

​ aseline hazard assessment of the​

B

​discontiguous Petrolia parcel.​

1328​

​

1329​​5.8 Master Priority Summary — All 26 Actions​

​

1330​​Table 5-3: Master Mitigation Action Priority Summary​

​

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​#​

​Action​

​Priority​

​Lead​

​Funding Pathway​

​5.6.1​

​Tribal Fire Program — Phase 1​

​1​

​OES / Admin​

​ MGP/BRIC planning;​

H

​BIA​

​5.6.2​

​Bear River PD Reinstatement​

​1​

​Admin / Council​

​BIA; DOJ​

​5.6.3​

​ mergency Resilience Campus —​

E

​Singley Hill​

​1​

​OES / Admin​

​HMGP; BRIC; EDA​

​5.6.3a​

​Near-Term Connex Supply Storage​

​1 (90-day)​ ​OES​

​5.6.4​

​ ingley Hill Corridor / Secondary​

S

​Egress Program​

​1​

​Public Works / OES​ H

​ MGP; BIA Roads;​

​Caltrans​

​5.6.5​

​ ecreation Center Generator +​

R

​30-Day Fuel​

​1​

​OES / Facilities​

​HMGP/BRIC​

​5.6.6​

​Resort Seismic Assessment​

​1 (active)​

​Grants / Facilities​

​HMGP (awarded)​

​5.6.7​

​Mattole Beach Emergency Protocol​

​2​

​OES / Cultural​

​Planning funds​

​5.6.8​

​DR-4692 PA Contract Execution​

​1 (admin)​

​Grants / Admin​

​PA (approved)​

​5.6.9​

​RAVE Mobile Enrollment Drive​

​2​

​OES​

​Tribal; THSGP​

​5.6.10​

​Foster Care Emergency Protocol​

​2​

​ ocial Services /​

S

​OES​

​Planning funds​

​5.6.11​

​ esort Water System Fire Flow​

R

​Assessment​

​2​

​ ublic Works /​

P

​Resort​

​BRIC; Tribal​

​5.6.12​

​ tormwater Infrastructure +​

S

​Maintenance Governance​

​1​

​Public Works​

​ OR R25AP00342;​

B

​BRIC​

​5.6.13​

​ nimal Emergency Plan​

A

​Implementation​

​3​

​OES​

​Tribal; Red Cross coord.​

​5.6.14​

​LEP Notification Capability​

R

​2​

​OES / HR​

​Tribal​

​ ump and Play Priority Fuel​

P

​Resupply​

​2​

​OES / Enterprise​

​Tribal​

​Cybersecurity IR Plan Formalization​

​3​

​IT​

​THSGP; Tribal​

​Comprehensive Training Program​

​2​

​OES / HR​

​Tribal; EMPG-like​

​5.6.18​

​Electronic Sign Sustainment​

​3​

​OES​

​Tribal​

​5.6.19​

J​ HA Review + Sovereignty​

​Documentation​

​1​

​Admin / OES​

​Planning funds​

​5.6.20​

​ attole Beach Evacuation +​

M

​Warning Plan​

​2​

​OES / Cultural​

​Planning funds​

​5.6.21​

​Drought Contingency Plan​

​2​

​Public Works / ENR​ ​BOR; BRIC​

​5.6.22​

​ owie Road to Echo Lane​

B

​Secondary Egress​

​2​

​Public Works​

​HMGP; BIA Roads​

​5.6.23​

​Pandemic Plan Update​

​3​

​OES​

​Tribal​

​5.6.15​

​5.6.16​

T​

AF

​D

​5.6.17​

​Tribal​

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​#​

​Action​

​Priority​

​Lead​

​Funding Pathway​

​5.6.24​

​Tribal Microgrid Phase 1​

​3​

​ enewable Energy​

R

​Coord.​

​DOE; HMGP​

​5.6.25​

​Petrolia Parcel Hazard Assessment​

​3​

​OES / ENR​

​Planning funds​

​5.6.26​

​Active Threat Plan Annual Exercise​

​3​

​OES / Security​

​Tribal​

1331​

​

1332​​5.9 Funding Strategy​

​

​D

R

AF

T​

​333​​The Tribe pursues a layered funding strategy pairing FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance​

1

1334​​(HMGP — declaration-based eligibility under FEMA-4692-DR; BRIC; FMA) with Public​

​

1335​​Assistance mitigation (§406), Bureau of Reclamation infrastructure agreements (R25AP00342​

​

1336​​active), BIA programs (roads, justice services, Living Languages), Department of Energy tribal​

​

1337​​energy programs, Department of Justice tribal justice funding, Caltrans safety programs, EDA,​

​

1338​​and Tribal enterprise capital. Grants Management administers all federal awards under 2 CFR​

​

1339​​200. Actions in this plan are drafted with an emphasis on narrow, shovel-ready scopes to​

​

1340​​maximize implementation likelihood, per FEMA's 2022 review guidance.​

​

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​PART SIX: PLAN MAINTENANCE​

1341​

​

1342​​6.1 Monitoring​

​

​343​​The Office of Emergency Services is responsible for monitoring implementation of this plan.​

1

1344​​Monitoring occurs on an annual cycle: each September — aligned with pre-storm-season​

​

1345​​activities including the culvert inspection protocol (Appendix I) and severe weather training​

​

1346​​(Appendix H) — OES collects a Mitigation Action Completion Report (MACR, Appendix D) from​

​

1347​​the lead department for each active action. The MACR standardizes the information collected​

​

1348​​across departments, per FEMA's 2022 review recommendation (Element A-1). OES compiles​

​

1349​​the MACRs into an Annual Mitigation Report to Tribal Council.​

​

T​

1350​​6.2 Evaluation​

​

1357​​6.3 Updating​

​

AF

​351​​The Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee convenes at least annually to evaluate the plan's​

1

1352​​effectiveness against its stated goals: whether actions are progressing on their general​

​

1353​​timelines, whether hazard conditions or Tribal priorities have changed, whether new​

​

1354​​development or acquisitions have changed the risk profile, and whether the plan remains​

​

1355​​integrated with the THIRA/SPR cycle and EOP. Evaluation findings are documented in the​

​

1356​​Annual Mitigation Report.​

​

​358​​The plan will be updated and resubmitted to FEMA Region IX within the five-year cycle required​

1

1359​​by 44 CFR § 201.7(d)(3). The update process will begin no later than year four of the cycle,​

​

1360​​drawing on the accumulated MACRs and Annual Mitigation Reports — which together provide​

​

1361​​the 2021-to-2026-style status documentation (Table 5-1) that this update required substantial​

​

1362​​effort to reconstruct. Amendments between cycles may be adopted by Tribal Council resolution​

​

1363​​when necessary to reflect changes in Tribal or federal law.​

​

R

1364​​6.4 Continued Public Participation​

​

​D

​365​​Public participation continues throughout the plan cycle: the Annual Mitigation Report is​

1

1366​​available to the Tribal community; mitigation is a standing topic at community gatherings; the​

​

1367​​Community Hazard Mitigation Survey is refreshed during the next update; and the public (as​

​

1368​​defined in Section 2.2) is invited to comment on any proposed amendment.​

​

1369​​6.5 Integration into Other Planning Mechanisms​

​

​370​​Hazard mitigation requirements are integrated into other Tribal planning mechanisms at the front​

1

1371​​end of project development, not after construction approval — per FEMA's 2022 review​

​

1372​​recommendation (Element C-5). Mechanisms include: capital project development and Council​

​

1373​​presentation packages (mitigation screening before Council review); the THIRA/SPR annual​

​

1374​​cycle; the EOP revision cycle; grant application development by Grants Management; land​

​

1375​​acquisition and trust conversion review; and enterprise facility planning.​

​

1376​​6.6 Project Closeout​

​

​377​​Upon completion of any mitigation action, the lead department submits a final MACR​

1

1378​​documenting completion, final cost, funding sources, and outcome against intent. For federally​

​

1379​​funded projects, Grants Management completes closeout — including financial reconciliation —​

​

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​380​​within 90 days of the end of the period of performance, per 2 CFR §§ 200.300–200.309 and​

1

1381​​200.344.​

​

1382​​6.7 Assurances​

​

​383​​The Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria assures that it will comply with all applicable​

1

1384​​federal statutes and regulations in effect with respect to the periods for which it receives grant​

​

1385​​funding, including 2 CFR Parts 200 and 3002, and will amend this plan whenever necessary to​

​

1386​​reflect changes in Tribal or federal laws and statutes, as required by 44 CFR § 201.7(c)(6).​

​

​D

R

AF

T​

1387​

​

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​APPENDIX A: PLANNING PROCESS DOCUMENTATION​

1388​

​

​389​​The THMP Planning Committee convened at project kickoff on March 3, 2026 and met regularly​

1

1390​​through Phase 1 (Weeks 1–4, March 2026) to organize the update, confirm the planning​

​

1391​​committee, issue departmental data requests, and validate the critical facilities list and​

​

1392​​community profile. Beginning in Phase 2, the process shifted to a department-and-partner​

​

1393​​engagement model: OES worked directly with individual Tribal departments and external​

​

1394​​partners on their subject areas, an approach that produced deeper technical input than​

​

1395​​continued full-committee meetings. Department mitigation workshops were held in July 2026​

​

1396​​(Phase 4) to review prior actions and develop the updated mitigation strategy.​

​

AF

T​

​397​​External partner engagement during the drafting period included sustained coordination with the​

1

1398​​U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is conducting a study and technical assistance project​

​

1399​​focused on the Mattole Beach area and the Tribe's revitalized Salmon Ceremony, and which​

​

1400​​produced the mapping series used throughout this plan. Coordination included video​

​

1401​​conferences on April 9, April 14, July 7, and July 14, 2026, and a two-day site visit to the​

​

1402​​Rancheria on May 6–7, 2026. Through this project, USACE is also engaging the Mattole​

​

1403​​Restoration Council and Mattole Salmon Group on watershed restoration relevant to the Tribe's​

​

1404​​interests.​

​

​D

R

​405​​Meeting records, including agendas and sign-in sheets, are retained on file at the Office of​

1

1406​​Emergency Services and are available for review; consistent with this plan's practice, they are​

​

1407​​not reproduced in the public document to protect personal information. The planning schedule is​

​

1408​​summarized in Figure A-1 below.​

​

1409​

​

​410​​Figure A-1: THMP 2026 planning process timeline — six phases from March 2026 kickoff​

1

1411​​through FEMA Region IX review.​

​

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​APPENDIX B: COMMUNITY HAZARD MITIGATION SURVEY​

1412​

​

​413​

1

1414​

​

​ PLACEHOLDER: Insert survey instrument and full response tabulation (survey​

▶

​closed; results summarized in Section 2.2).​

​D

R

AF

T​

1415​

​

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​ PPENDIX C: TRIBAL STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH​

A

1417​​DOCUMENTATION​

​

1416​

​

​418​​Stakeholder outreach was extended to the, Blue Lake Rancheria, Cher-Ae Heights Indian​

1

1419​​Community of the Trinidad Rancheria, Yurok Tribe, Hoopa Valley Tribe, Humboldt County OES,​

​

1420​​BIA, Loleta Fire Department, CAL FIRE / Fortuna ECC, Whitchurch Engineering, and the​

​

1421​​Bureau of Reclamation.​

​

​422​

1

1423​

​

​ PLACEHOLDER: Insert copies of draft-plan notification correspondence to the​

▶

​entities above (public review period August 4 – September 4, 2026).​

​D

R

AF

T​

1424​

​

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​ PPENDIX D: MITIGATION ACTION COMPLETION REPORT​

A

1426​​(MACR) TEMPLATE​

​

1425​

​

​427​​The MACR standardizes annual reporting for every mitigation action. Lead departments​

1

1428​​complete one MACR per assigned action each September.​

​

​Field​

​Entry​

​Action number and title​

​Reporting department / preparer​

T​

​Reporting period​

​ tatus (Not Started / In Progress / Completed / Deferred /​

S

​Removed)​

​Progress this period​

​Obstacles or changes in scope​

AF

​Funding status (applications, awards, expenditures)​

​Anticipated activity next period​

​ or completed actions: final cost, funding sources,​

F

​outcome vs. intent​

​Signature / date​

​D

R

1429​

​

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​APPENDIX E: TRIBAL COUNCIL ADOPTION RESOLUTION​

1430​

​

​431​

1

1432​

​

1433​

​

​ PLACEHOLDER: Insert adopted resolution following Tribal Council action. FEMA​

▶

​reviews the plan as Approvable Pending Adoption; the executed resolution completes​

​approval.​

​D

R

AF

T​

1434​

​

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​APPENDIX F: ENERGY EMERGENCY PLAN​

1435​

​

​436​​The Energy Emergency Plan addresses PSPS monitoring and notification, generator activation​

1

1437​​procedures, and extended outage coordination through a 30-day scenario. Its core is the Tribal​

​

1438​​fuel rationing hierarchy:​

​

​Category​

​Priority 1​

​ mergency operations and continuity of government, including gaming operations —​

E

​gaming revenue funds all Tribal government services​

​Priority 2​

​Critical services: water system, WWTP, Pump and Play fuel infrastructure​

​Priority 3​

​Resort operations​

​Priority 4​

​Tribal residential — AFN households first​

​Priority 5​

​All other uses​

1439​

​

​D

R

1442​

​

​ PLACEHOLDER: Merge full Energy Emergency Plan text into this appendix before​

▶

​submission.​

AF

​440​

1

1441​

​

T​

​Priority​

​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​59​​of​​65​

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​ PPENDIX G: PET AND SERVICE ANIMAL EMERGENCY​

A

1444​​PLAN​

​

1443​

​

T​

​445​​The plan establishes animal sheltering at the Recreation Center ballfields with an initial​

1

1446​​50-animal capacity target (expanding toward 100 by end of cycle, against THIRA scenario​

​

1447​​demand of 50–200 and a current capability of 20), intake and documentation procedures,​

​

1448​​Humboldt County Animal Control coordination, and reunification procedures. Red Cross​

​

1449​​congregate shelter standards now require animal accounting, making this plan a prerequisite for​

​

1450​​full shelter capability. The need is documented in the Tribe’s own operational history: during the​

​

1451​​September 2020 evacuation shelter operation at the Recreation Center, pets could not be​

​

1452​​accommodated within the facility — a recognized barrier to evacuation compliance that this plan​

​

1453​​closes.​

​

​ O STAKES IN ASTROTURF. All fencing on Recreation Center ballfields must use​

N

​weighted or free-standing systems. No stakes, ground anchors, or any penetration​

​of the artificial turf surface is permitted.​

​457​

1

1458​

​

​ PLACEHOLDER: Merge full Pet and Service Animal Emergency Plan text into this​

▶

​appendix before submission.​

​D

R

1459​

​

AF

​454​

1

1455​

​

1456​

​

​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​60​​of​​65​

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​ PPENDIX H: SEVERE WEATHER EMPLOYEE TRAINING​

A

1461​​MODULE​

​

1460​

​

​462​​A 60–90 minute annual all-staff training curriculum covering: atmospheric river and PSPS​

1

1463​​hazards; live RAVE Mobile enrollment during the session; shelter-in-place versus evacuation​

​

1464​​decision-making; department roles; and the fuel rationing hierarchy. Recommended delivery:​

​

1465​​September each year, before storm season, alongside the Appendix I inspection cycle.​

​

​466​

1

1467​

​

​ PLACEHOLDER: Merge full training module (8-section curriculum with department​

▶

​supplements) into this appendix before submission.​

​D

R

AF

T​

1468​

​

​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​61​​of​​65​

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​ PPENDIX I: PRE-STORM CULVERT AND DRAINAGE​

A

1470​​INSPECTION PROTOCOL​

​

1469​

​

​471​​Annual September inspection protocol covering all six Whitchurch Engineering BRB2401 sites.​

1

1472​​Responsible party: Public Works and Facilities — not OES. OES receives the annual inspection​

​

1473​​report and holds escalation authority for deferred maintenance. This governance assignment​

​

1474​​corrects the institutional gap documented by Whitchurch Engineering as a primary contributing​

​

1475​​cause of flooding at all six identified sites: infrastructure that belonged to no one was maintained​

​

1476​​by no one. The protocol connects to the BRIC code plus-up land-use provisions under Action​

​

1477​​5.6.12.​

​

T​

​ PLACEHOLDER: Merge full inspection protocol into this appendix before​

▶

​submission​

​D

R

AF

​478​

1

1479​

​

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​APPENDIX J: FLOODING ENGINEERING DOCUMENTATION​

1480​

​

1481​​The following documents are incorporated by reference and maintained on file at BRB OES:​

​

​•​

​•​

​•​

​ hitchurch Engineering, Inc. — Bear River Band Rancheria Initial Flooding Inspections,​

W

​Project No. BRB2401, March 7, 2024. Jeffrey Laikam, PE (RCE #68586). Six-site​

​engineering assessment.​

​Bear River Band Flood Control Project Map, 2025. Aerial map showing six flooding sites​

​with Trust Land (pink border) and Tribal-owned Fee Land (green border) boundaries.​

​Bureau of Reclamation Agreement No. R25AP00342. Active infrastructure improvement​

​project. On file with Grants Management.​

​D

R

AF

T​

​482​

1

1483​

​

1484​

​

1485​

​

1486​

​

1487​

​

1488​

​

1489​

​

​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​63​​of​​65​

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​ RE-SUBMISSION CHECKLIST (INTERNAL — REMOVE​

P

1491​​BEFORE PUBLIC RELEASE AND FEMA SUBMISSION)​

​

1490​

​

​Item​

​Owner​

​Status​

​1​

​ ublic comment period dates and instructions​

P

​(Executive Summary / Part Two)​

​OES​

​ omplete —​

C

​dates in​

​Executive​

​Summary​

​2​

​Planning timeline figure (Part Two / Appendix A)​

​OES​

​ omplete —​

C

​Figure A-1​

​3​

​Survey results summary (Part Two / Appendix B)​

​OES​

​ urvey closed​

S

​— summarized​

​in 2.2;​

​instrument to​

​Appendix B​

​4​

​ ribal stakeholder survey distribution + responses​ ​OES​

T

​(Appendix C)​

​ uperseded —​

S

​send​

​draft-notificatio​

​n emails at​

​release; file in​

​Appendix C​

​5​

​ arcel inventory table with trust/fee status (Part​

P

​Three 3.4)​

​ENR​

​Pending​

​6​

​ opulation figures: enrollment, Tish Non, Basayo​

P

​Village, Day Care, LEP count (Part Three 3.5)​

​ ocial Services / Housing​

S

​/ HR​

​Pending​

​7​

​Total insured asset value (Parts Three and Four)​

​Finance / HR​

​Pending​

​8​

​H-10 and H-15 hydrant retest GPM (Table 3-2)​

​OES / Facilities​

​Retest pending​

​9​

​ WTP capacity in GPD; Resort reclaimed​

W

​system specs (Part Three 3.8.2)​

​Public Works​

​Pending​

​10​

​ D dissolution — Council action or administrative​

P

​(Part Three 3.9.1)​

​Tribal Administration​

​Pending​

​11​

​ EMA-4692-DR damage table: 10 PWs,​

F

​amounts, total (Part Four 4.4)​

​Grants team​

​ omplete —​

C

​Section 4.4​

​12​

​ OVID closure dates and federal assistance​

C

​amounts (Part Four 4.5)​

​Finance / Resort​

​Pending​

​13​

​Whitchurch site-specific descriptions (Table 4-3)​

​ ES — from BRB2401​

O

​letter​

​ omplete —​

C

​Table 4-3​

​14​

​ SPS events since 2019; PSPS risk tier (Part​

P

​Four 4.2/4.8)​

​OES / PG&E​

​ omplete —​

C

​Section 4.2​

​15​

​ urrent Drought Monitor classification (Part Four​

C

​4.9)​

​ ES — check before​

O

​submission​

​ omplete —​

C

​re-verify date at​

​submission​

​D

AF

T​

​#​

R

​ his

T

1492​

​

checklist is an internal working tool. Delete this section from the public review copy and​

​from

1493​

​

the final FEMA submission.​

​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​64​​of​​65​

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​Status​

​16​

​ ecreation Center generator grant reference​

R

​(Action 5.6.5)​

​OES​

​Pending​

​17​

​HMGP project number (Action 5.6.6)​

​Grants Manager​

​Pending​

​18​

​ mergency Resilience Campus name in Tribal​

E

​language (Action 5.6.3)​

​ anguage program /​

L

​Elders / Council​

​ ending​

P

​direction​

​19​

​ oster care roster access protocol with Social​

F

​Services (Action 5.6.10)​

​Social Services​

​Pending reply​

​20​

​ ear Paws Lane displacement plan timeline — 7​

B

​units confirmed (Part Three 3.5)​

​Housing / Facilities​

​ imeline​

T

​pending​

​21​

​Loss estimation table (Part Four 4.15)​

​22​

​ erge full Appendix F–I texts from supplemental​

M

​drafts​

​23​

I​nsert all maps at MAP PLACEHOLDER boxes —​ ​OES / GIS​

​Army Corps set + BOR flood map​

​Maps in hand​

​24​

​Council adoption resolution (Appendix E)​

​ fter public​

A

​review​

​25​

​ pdate TOC page numbers (right-click → Update​ ​OES​

U

​Field)​

​At each edit​

​26​

​ emove this checklist from public and FEMA​

R

​copies​

​Final step​

T​

​Owner​

​OES / Finance​

​After item 7​

​OES​

​Pending​

​Tribal Council​

AF

​495​

1

1496​

​

​Item​

​OES​

​END OF DRAFT PUBLIC REVIEW— BRB TRIBAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN​

​2026 UPDATE​

R

1494​

​

​#​

​D

​497​​Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria • Office of Emergency Services • 266 Keisner Road, Loleta,​

1

1498​

​

​CA 95551​

​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​65​​of​​65​

​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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