Del Norte County, California, long the homeland of the Yurok and Tolowa people, is known for its impressive natural and cultural resources; yet significant gaps remain regarding planning or other initiatives to protect and preserve these important assets during and after a disaster.
The region faces numerous hazards that are increasingly intensifying, including wildfire, drought, earthquake, tsunami and severe storms. Two of the Wild and Scenic Rivers, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site (Redwood National and State Parks), and multiple Indigenous traditional knowledge and heritage collections are among the values at risk.
The Natural and Cultural Resource Protection and Preservation Program (NCRP3) is a collaborative effort led by the Del Norte County Office of Emergency Services to protect and preserve natural and cultural resources in the face of disasters. The county and Tidal Basin, a Michael Baker International Company, engaged four federally recognized tribes, Crescent City (the county seat) and other cultural stewards to develop an NCRP3 Disaster Plan and tabletop exercise to enhance learning for an NCRP3 response team.
The plan includes:
- Identification of local natural and cultural resources, including intangible resources.
- Documentation of stakeholders at the local, state, tribal and federal levels.
- A risk analysis evaluating the threat of local hazards and key vulnerabilities.
- Guidance on identifying and securing natural resource areas and cultural collections.
- Protocols to share intelligence and information between stakeholders and law enforcement about potential acts of terrorism.
- Proposed mitigation projects.
- A comprehensive concept of operations (CONOPs) section detailing roles and responsibilities, including integration with the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
- A recovery section that includes a list of national and international organizations that specialize in heritage recovery.
- Adherence to regulations and best practices concerning tribal sovereignty and intellectual and cultural property rights.
The plan can be activated in response to a situation associated with any hazard—natural or human-caused—that may affect Del Norte County, requiring planned, coordinated responses by multiple agencies or jurisdictions. In addition to our original deliverables, Tidal Basin fostered communication between local government officials, educating them on tribal areas of responsibility and an understanding of tribal sovereignty. The outcome uncovered the need for collaboration during disaster response affecting tribal assets.