# ​TRIBAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN​ > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Abear_river%3Aa6764c45ccb7e17a ## Record - **Collection:** Tribal code - **Document type:** Tribal code ## Text 3​ ​ ​TRIBAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN​ 4​ ​ ​2026 UPDATE​ AF 5​ ​ T​ 2​ ​ ​BEAR RIVER BAND OF THE ROHNERVILLE​ ​RANCHERIA​ 1​ ​ ​PREPARED FOR PUBLIC REVIEW​ 6​ ​ ​Prepared by the Office of Emergency Services​ 7​ ​ ​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,​ 8 9​ ​ ​2022​ R ​This update prepared pursuant to 44 CFR § 201.7 and the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000​ ​D 1​0​ ​11​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​1​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​PLAN OVERVIEW​ ​12​ ​Detail​ ​Tribal Jurisdiction​ ​ ear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria (BRB), a federally recognized​ B ​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​ A ​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​ F ​earthquake trilogy 2021, 2022, 2024​ ​ onsolidated working draft for public review; placeholders marked in red​ C ​pending completion​ ​D R ​13​ AF ​Companion Documents​ T​ ​Item​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​2​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​TABLE OF CONTENTS​ ​14​ ​15​​PLAN OVERVIEW​ ​16​​TABLE OF CONTENTS​ ​17​​EXECUTIVE SUMMARY​ ​18​​PART ONE: INTRODUCTION​ ​ .1 Purpose and Background​ 1 ​20​ ​1.2 Regulatory Basis​ ​21​ ​1.3 FEMA Mitigation Grant Programs​ ​22​ ​1.4 Tribal Mitigation Vision and Mission​ ​23​ ​Mitigation Vision​ ​24​ ​Mitigation Mission​ ​25​ ​1.5 The Four Community Pillars​ ​26​ ​1.6 Plan Goals​ ​27​ ​1.7 Plan Organization​ ​28​​PART TWO: PLANNING PROCESS​ ​29​ ​2.1 Description of the Planning Process​ ​30​ ​2.2 Public Participation​ ​31​ ​Hazards Experienced by the Community​ ​32​ ​Critical Facilities and Infrastructure Priorities​ ​33​ ​What We Heard: Locations, Suggestions, and Readiness​ ​34​ ​2.3 Stakeholder and Intergovernmental Coordination​ ​35​ ​2.4 Integration with THIRA, SPR, and Other Tribal Planning​ ​36​ ​2.5 Review and Incorporation of Existing Plans, Studies, and Reports​ ​37​ ​2.6 Government-to-Government Relationship​ ​38​​PART THREE: COMMUNITY AND LAND PROFILE​ ​39​ ​3.1 Overview​ ​40​ ​3.2 History and Connection to Land​ ​41​ ​The 1860 Coordinated Massacres and Aftermath​ ​42​ ​The Indian Boarding School Era​ ​43​ ​The 1958 Termination and the Tillie Hardwick Lawsuit​ ​44​ ​The Salmon Ceremony — Cultural Restoration and Ecological Stewardship​ ​45​ ​3.3 Governance​ ​46​ ​3.4 Tribal Lands​ ​47​ ​3.5 Population and Vulnerable Populations​ ​48​ ​3.6 Critical Facilities​ ​49​ ​3.7 Transportation and Access​ ​50​ ​3.8 Water Systems and Fire Protection Infrastructure​ ​51​ ​3.8.1 Tish Non Water System and February 2026 Hydrant Flow Test​ ​52​ ​3.8.2 Resort Reclaimed Water System​ ​53​ ​3.9 Public Safety Services​ ​D R AF T​ ​19​ ​​ 2 ​3​ ​4​ ​5​ ​5​ ​5​ ​5​ ​6​ ​6​ ​6​ ​6​ ​6​ ​6​ ​8​ ​8​ ​9​ ​9​ ​10​ ​10​ ​12​ ​12​ ​12​ ​13​ ​15​ ​15​ ​17​ ​17​ ​17​ ​17​ ​18​ ​18​ ​18​ ​20​ ​20​ ​21​ ​24​ ​24​ ​25​ ​25​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​3​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​ .9.1 Law Enforcement​ 3 ​55​ ​3.9.2 Fire Protection​ ​56​ ​3.10 Emergency Operations and Alerting​ ​57​ ​3.11 Cultural Resources​ ​58​​PART FOUR: RISK ASSESSMENT​ ​59​ ​4.1 Methodology​ ​60​ ​4.2 Climate Change as a Force Multiplier​ ​61​ ​4.3 Hazard Summary and Priority Rankings​ ​62​ ​4.4 Earthquake​ ​63​ ​Hazard Profile — Type, Location, Extent​ ​64​ ​Previous Occurrences — The December Trilogy​ ​65​ ​Probability, Impacts, and Vulnerability​ ​66​ ​4.5 Pandemic / Public Health Emergency​ ​67​ ​4.6 Fire and Wildfire​ ​68​ ​Hazard Profile​ ​69​ ​Regional Wildfire History​ ​70​ ​Fire Flow Baseline​ ​71​ ​4.7 Flooding (Localized and Riverine)​ ​72​ ​Hazard Profile​ ​73​ ​4.8 Severe Weather and Climate Change​ ​74​ ​4.9 Drought and Water Shortage​ ​75​ ​4.10 Tsunami and Coastal Hazards​ ​76​ ​4.11 Transportation and Access Hazards​ ​77​ ​4.12 Cyberattack​ ​78​ ​4.13 Other Hazards​ ​79​ ​4.14 Tribal Capability Assessment​ ​80​ ​4.15 Overall Vulnerability Summary and Loss Estimation​ ​81​​PART FIVE: MITIGATION STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN​ ​82​ ​5.1 Strategy Framework​ ​83​ ​5.2 Regulatory Framework​ ​84​ ​5.3 Status of 2021 THMP Mitigation Actions​ ​85​ ​5.4 Prioritization Criteria​ ​86​ ​5.5 Goals and Objectives​ ​87​ ​5.6 Mitigation Actions — Detail Sheets​ ​88​ ​Action 5.6.1 — Tribal Fire Program — Phase 1 (Priority 1)​ ​89​ ​Action 5.6.2 — Bear River Police Department Reinstatement​ ​90​ ​Action 5.6.3 — Emergency Resilience Campus — Singley Hill Corridor​ ​91​ ​Action 5.6.4 — Singley Hill Corridor and Secondary Egress Program​ ​92​ ​Action 5.6.5 — Recreation Center Generator and 30-Day Fuel Capability​ ​93​ ​Action 5.6.6 — Resort Seismic Assessment (Active HMGP Project)​ ​94​ ​HMGP - 4692 - Seismic Retrofit and Slope Stabilization Project​ ​ 5​ 2 ​25​ ​25​ ​26​ ​27​ ​27​ ​27​ ​28​ ​29​ ​29​ ​30​ ​31​ ​34​ ​34​ ​34​ ​34​ ​35​ ​37​ ​37​ ​38​ ​39​ ​39​ ​42​ ​43​ ​43​ ​43​ ​44​ ​45​ ​45​ ​45​ ​45​ ​46​ ​47​ ​47​ ​47​ ​47​ ​48​ ​48​ ​49​ ​49​ ​49​ ​D R AF T​ ​54​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​4​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​ ction 5.6.7 — Mattole Beach Emergency Protocol​ A ​49​ ​96​ ​Action 5.6.8 — FEMA-4692-DR Public Assistance Contract Execution​ ​50​ ​97​ ​5.7 Mitigation Actions 9 through 26​ ​50​ ​98​ ​5.8 Master Priority Summary — All 26 Actions​ ​53​ ​99​ ​5.9 Funding Strategy​ ​54​ 100​​PART SIX: PLAN MAINTENANCE​ ​ ​55​ 101​ ​6.1 Monitoring​ ​ ​55​ 102​ ​6.2 Evaluation​ ​ ​55​ 103​ ​6.3 Updating​ ​ ​55​ 104​ ​6.4 Continued Public Participation​ ​ ​55​ 105​ ​6.5 Integration into Other Planning Mechanisms​ ​ ​55​ 106​ ​6.6 Project Closeout​ ​ ​55​ 107​ ​6.7 Assurances​ ​ ​56​ 108​​APPENDIX A: PLANNING PROCESS DOCUMENTATION​ ​ ​57​ 109​​APPENDIX B: COMMUNITY HAZARD MITIGATION SURVEY​ ​ ​59​ 110​​APPENDIX C: TRIBAL STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH DOCUMENTATION​ ​ ​60​ 111​​APPENDIX D: MITIGATION ACTION COMPLETION REPORT (MACR) TEMPLATE​ ​ ​61​ 112​​APPENDIX E: TRIBAL COUNCIL ADOPTION RESOLUTION​ ​ ​62​ 113​​APPENDIX F: ENERGY EMERGENCY PLAN​ ​ ​63​ 114​​APPENDIX G: PET AND SERVICE ANIMAL EMERGENCY PLAN​ ​ ​64​ 115​​APPENDIX H: SEVERE WEATHER EMPLOYEE TRAINING MODULE​ ​ ​65​ 116​​APPENDIX I: PRE-STORM CULVERT AND DRAINAGE INSPECTION PROTOCOL​ ​ ​66​ 117​​APPENDIX J: FLOODING ENGINEERING DOCUMENTATION​ ​ ​67​ 118​​PRE-SUBMISSION CHECKLIST (INTERNAL — REMOVE BEFORE PUBLIC RELEASE AND​ ​ 119​​FEMA SUBMISSION)​ ​ ​68​ ​D R AF T​ ​95​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​5​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​EXECUTIVE SUMMARY​ 120​ ​ ​21​​The Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria (BRB or the Tribe) is a federally recognized​ 1 122​​sovereign Tribal nation located in Humboldt County, California. This Tribal Hazard Mitigation​ ​ 123​​Plan (THMP) is the Tribe's five-year update to its original plan, adopted February 18, 2021 and​ ​ 124​​approved by FEMA Region IX on March 30, 2022. The plan is prepared pursuant to 44 CFR §​ ​ 125​​201.7 and the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, and its approval maintains the Tribe's eligibility for​ ​ 126​​FEMA hazard mitigation assistance, including the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)​ ​ 127​​and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC).​ ​ T​ ​28​​This plan is organized around four community pillars articulated by the Tribe: Quality of Life,​ 1 129​​Self-Sufficiency, Sustainability, and Cultural Awareness, anchored by the guiding philosophy that​ ​ 130​​healing the land heals the people. These pillars are not decorative framing — they are the​ ​ 131​​substantive organizing logic of the plan. Mitigation priorities reflect Tribal values and institutional​ ​ 132​​goals, including workforce development and cultural healing, and not simply hazard frequency​ ​ 133​​or severity.​ ​ AF ​34​​The period since the 2021 plan has been eventful. On December 20, 2022, a magnitude 6.4​ 1 135​​earthquake struck offshore of Ferndale, causing documented damage across ten Tribal facilities​ ​ 136​​and resulting in a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration (FEMA-4692-DR) — the Tribe's first​ ​ 137​​direct declaration. December earthquakes in 2021, 2022, and 2024 form a three-event trilogy​ ​ 138​​that has elevated seismic risk to the Tribe's highest hazard priority. In February 2026 the Tribe​ ​ 139​​conducted its first-ever hydrant flow test of all 16 hydrants on the Tish Non water system per​ ​ 140​​NFPA 291. Whitchurch Engineering documented six localized flooding sites in March 2024​ ​ 141​​(Project BRB2401), identifying systemic infrastructure maintenance governance failure as the​ ​ 142​​root cause, and the Bureau of Reclamation has funded infrastructure improvements under​ ​ 143​​Agreement R25AP00342.​ ​ R ​44​​This update identifies ten hazards, presents tribal-specific vulnerability data as primary (with​ 1 145​​regional data as supplemental context, per FEMA's 2022 review guidance), documents the​ ​ 146​​status of all 15 mitigation actions from the 2021 plan, and establishes 26 mitigation actions for​ ​ 147​​the 2026–2031 cycle. The highest priorities include establishment of a Tribal Fire Program​ ​ 148​​(Priority 1 — framed as workforce development, cultural revitalization, and land healing),​ ​ 149​​reinstatement of the Bear River Police Department, development of an Emergency Resilience​ ​ 150​​Campus on the Singley Hill corridor adjacent to the Rancheria, secondary egress via Bowie​ ​ 151​​Road to Echo Lane, and execution of the approved but unspent FEMA Public Assistance​ ​ 152​​contract under FEMA-4692-DR.​ ​ ​D ​53​​This plan is a public document. Operationally sensitive details are maintained in the BRB​ 1 154​​Emergency Operations Plan and are not reproduced here. Members of the Tribal community​ ​ 155​​and the public are invited to review this draft and provide comment to the Office of Emergency​ ​ 156​​Services before the plan is finalized for Tribal Council adoption and FEMA Region IX​ ​ 157​​submission.​ ​ 158​ ​ 159​ ​Released for Public Comment on: 8/4/2026​ ​ 160​ ​Closed for Review on: 9/14/2026​ ​ 161​ ​ 162​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​6​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​PART ONE: INTRODUCTION​ 163​ ​ 164​​1.1 Purpose and Background​ ​ ​65​​The purpose of this Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan is to identify the natural and human-caused​ 1 166​​hazards that threaten the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria, assess the Tribe's​ ​ 167​​vulnerability to those hazards, and establish a prioritized strategy of mitigation actions that​ ​ 168​​reduce long-term risk to life, property, the Tribal economy, and cultural resources. Hazard​ ​ 169​​mitigation is sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk — it is distinct from​ ​ 170​​preparedness, response, and recovery, though it strengthens all three.​ ​ 177​​1.2 Regulatory Basis​ ​ T​ ​71​​This plan is an update to the Tribe's original THMP, adopted by Tribal Council on February 18,​ 1 172​​2021 under Resolution No. 21-11 and approved by FEMA Region IX on March 30, 2022​ ​ 173​​following revisions in October 2021 and January 2022. As a plan update, this document​ ​ 174​​addresses the additional requirements of 44 CFR § 201.7(d)(3): changes in development,​ ​ 175​​progress on prior mitigation actions, and changes in priorities are documented throughout,​ ​ 176​​principally in Part Five.​ ​ ​•​ ​•​ ​•​ ​•​ •​ ​ ​•​ ​ isaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000), amending the Robert T. Stafford Disaster​ D ​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​ R ​79​ 1 180​ ​ 181​ ​ 182​ ​ 183​ ​ 184​ ​ 185​ ​ 186​ ​ 187​ ​ 188​ ​ 189​ ​ 190​ ​ AF 178​​This plan is prepared under the following federal authorities:​ ​ ​D ​91​​As a federally recognized sovereign nation, BRB engages with FEMA on a​ 1 192​​government-to-government basis. This plan is submitted directly to FEMA Region IX and does​ ​ 193​​not require state review.​ ​ 194​​1.3 FEMA Mitigation Grant Programs​ ​ ​95​​An approved THMP maintains the Tribe's eligibility for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance,​ 1 196​​including the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Building Resilient Infrastructure and​ ​ 197​​Communities (BRIC), and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA), as well as mitigation opportunities​ ​ 198​​within Public Assistance (PA Categories C–G). The Tribe has a Presidential Major Disaster​ ​ 199​​Declaration (FEMA-4692-DR) establishing direct HMGP eligibility, an active HMGP-funded​ ​ 200​​seismic assessment project, and an approved PA contract pending execution. BRB is actively​ ​ 201​​pursuing both HMGP and BRIC funding opportunities as of the date of this plan update.​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​7​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 202​​1.4 Tribal Mitigation Vision and Mission​ ​ 203​​Mitigation Vision​ ​ ​04​​To create a vibrant Tribal community that promotes safety through preventative planning,​ 2 205​​training, and the implementation of strategies designed to avoid or mitigate potential risks to​ ​ 206​​Tribal citizens, Rancheria visitors, and Tribal assets — including those on the main Rancheria,​ ​ 207​​discontiguous Tribal lands, and ancestral territories where Tribal members gather.​ ​ 208​​Mitigation Mission​ ​ 213​​1.5 The Four Community Pillars​ ​ T​ ​09​​To protect the Tribal community and its resources through the establishment of an integrated​ 2 210​​mitigation program that helps BRB prevent and reduce the incidence of injury and damage from​ ​ 211​​hazards, assert Tribal authority over public safety on Tribal trust lands, and build long-term​ ​ 212​​community resilience consistent with Tribal sovereignty and self-determination.​ ​ ​Pillar​ ​Meaning in This Plan​ ​Quality of Life​ ​ rotecting the health, safety, housing, and daily well-being of Tribal citizens,​ P ​elders, children, and employees​ ​Self-Sufficiency​ ​ uilding Tribal capability to respond to and recover from emergencies without​ B ​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​ P ​relationship with ancestral lands — recognizing that cultural restoration is itself​ ​mitigation​ R ​Cultural Awareness​ 217​ ​ AF ​14​​Every mitigation action in this plan advances one or more of four community pillars established​ 2 215​​by the Tribe. Together with the guiding philosophy that healing the land heals the people, these​ ​ 216​​pillars are the organizing logic of the plan:​ ​ ​D 218​​1.6 Plan Goals​ ​ ​19​​Goal 1:​​Preserve human life at BRB Rancheria and protect​​the health, safety, and well-being of​ 2 220​​Tribal citizens, Tribal employees, and visitors to BRB Rancheria and Tribal lands.​ ​ ​21​​Goal 2:​​Protect and safeguard BRB property, including​​buildings, water, electrical and other​ 2 222​​utilities, equipment, land, cultural resources, and environmental resources.​ ​ ​23​​Goal 3:​​Preserve and protect Tribal government and​​economic enterprises from interruption and​ 2 224​​implement mitigation strategies that reduce the likelihood of long-term disruptions.​ ​ 225​​1.7 Plan Organization​ ​ 226​​Table 1-1: Plan Organization​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​8​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​Title​ ​Description​ ​Part One​ ​Introduction​ ​ urpose, regulatory basis, grant programs, vision, mission,​ P ​and goals​ ​Part Two​ ​Planning Process​ ​ lan update process, committee membership, public​ P ​participation, and agency coordination​ ​Part Three​ ​Community and Land Profile​ ​ ribal history, lands, facilities, population, infrastructure, and​ T ​public services​ ​Part Four​ ​Risk Assessment​ ​ azard identification, profiling, vulnerability assessment, and​ H ​loss estimation​ ​Part Five​ ​ itigation Strategy and​ M ​Action Plan​ ​ oals, objectives, and 26 mitigation actions with responsible​ G ​parties and timelines​ ​Part Six​ ​Plan Maintenance​ ​Monitoring, evaluation, and update procedures​ 227​ ​ T​ ​Part​ 228​​Supporting documentation is provided in the following appendices:​ ​ AF •​ ​ ​•​ ​•​ ​•​ ​•​ ​•​ ​•​ ​•​ ​•​ ​ ppendix A: Planning Process Documentation — meeting notes, sign-in sheets, and​ A ​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​ R ​•​ ​D ​29​ 2 230​ ​ 231​ ​ 232​ ​ 233​ ​ 234​ ​ 235​ ​ 236​ ​ 237​ ​ 238​ ​ 239​ ​ 240​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​9​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​PART TWO: PLANNING PROCESS​ 241​ ​ 242​​2.1 Description of the Planning Process​ ​ ​43​​To update this THMP, the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria reconvened its Hazard​ 2 244​​Mitigation Planning Committee and initiated a structured, phased planning process led by​ ​ 245​​Amanda Gonzales, Office of Emergency Services Manager, with support from Nicholas​ ​ 246​​Anderson, Office of Emergency Services Logistics Coordinator.​ ​ 252​​Table 2-1: Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee​ ​ ​Role​ ​Office of Emergency Services​ ​Plan Lead / Coordinator​ ​Tribal Administration​ ​Committee Member​ ​Information Technology​ ​Grants Management​ AF ​Department​ ​Human Resources​ 253​ ​ T​ ​47​​The planning process was designed to meet the requirements of 44 CFR § 201.7(b) and (c),​ 2 248​​which require that the process: (1) include an opportunity for neighboring communities, local​ ​ 249​​and regional agencies, businesses, and other organizations to be involved; (2) include the​ ​ 250​​public; and (3) be conducted in a manner consistent with the government-to-government​ ​ 251​​relationship between the Tribe and federal agencies.​ ​ ​Committee Member​ ​Committee Member​ ​Committee Member​ ​Facilities and Maintenance​ ​Committee Member​ ​Finance​ ​Committee Member​ 257​ ​ ​D 258​ ​ R ​54​​Meeting notes and sign-in sheets are maintained on file at the BRB Office of Emergency​ 2 255​​Services ; the planning process, partner engagement, and schedule are documented in​ ​ 256​​Appendix A.​ ​ 259​ ​ 260​ ​ 261​ ​ 262​ ​ 263​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​10​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 264​​2.2 Public Participation​ ​ ​65​​As​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​public​ ​participation​ ​process​ ​for​ ​this​ ​plan​ ​update,​ ​the​ ​Office​ ​of​ ​Emergency​ ​Services​ 2 266​​distributed​​a​​community​​hazard​​survey​​to​​Tribal​​citizens,​​Tribal​​government​​employees,​​and​​residents​​of​ ​ 267​​the​ ​planning​ ​area.​ ​Respondents​ ​rated​ ​their​ ​level​ ​of​ ​concern​ ​for​ ​eight​ ​hazards​ ​on​ ​a​ ​five-point​ ​scale,​ ​ 268​​identified​ ​hazards​ ​that​ ​have​ ​personally​ ​affected​ ​their​ ​households,​ ​ranked​ ​the​ ​community​ ​facilities​ ​and​ ​ 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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​11​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​12​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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).​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​13​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​14​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​15​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​16​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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.​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​17​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​18​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​20​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​21​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​22​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​23​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​24​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​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​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​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​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​26​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​ 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​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​28​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​30​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​31​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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.​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​32​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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).​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​33​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​34​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​35​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​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.​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​36​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​37​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​38​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​39​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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.​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​40​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​41​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​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​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​42​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​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.​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​43​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​44​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​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​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​45​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ 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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​46​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​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​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​47​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​#​ ​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​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​48​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​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​ ​ ​BRB Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan — 2026 Update — Page​​49​​of​​65​ ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xw7sH3gbNi92JyaE3OVzu6g78W7cCPzp/edit​ ​#​ ​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 / Enterpris [Text truncated at 120,000 characters. The full text is on the page linked above.] --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Abear_river%3Aa6764c45ccb7e17a. Public record. Not legal advice.