Pala Reservation Emergency Preparedness

Pala Reservation Emergency Preparedness (PREP)

The Pala Band of Mission Indians (PBMI) and Pala Environmental Department welcome you to the Pala Reservation Emergency Preparedness (PREP) project.

Please explore the page to learn about natural hazards, such as flash floods, wildfires, earthquakes, and extreme heat, and how they impact you and your neighborhood. You will learn about your risk and how to protect your home and family.

Newsletter Articles

You can follow the Pala Reservation Emergency Preparedness (PREP) articles posted through the mediums below.

• Planet Pala (Pala Environmental Department website)
• Tribal Quarterly

About PREP

The Pala Environmental Department (PED) is taking proactive steps to prepare our neighborhoods for the impacts of natural hazards and climate change. With the support of a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) grant, we’ve launched a two-year initiative focused on enhancing the resilience of Pala’s employees, residents, and neighborhoods. 

PREP stands for the Pala Reservation Emergency Preparedness Project. PREP entails a comprehensive series of visits to each neighborhood on the reservation, where we will work closely with residents to identify hazardous areas, evacuation routes, and vulnerable residents. The primary focus is to pinpoint specific challenges within each neighborhood and develop tailored strategies to prepare and protect residents, homes, and communities.

The Pala Band of Mission Indians has identified public awareness, education, and preparedness in addressing the threats posed by climate change and natural disasters. The PREP project underscores the tribe’s commitment to enhancing its capacity and resilience in the face of hazards such as extreme heat, flash floods, wildfires, and earthquakes.

The PREP Leadership Team is transforming the extensive 600+ page Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan (go to the Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan section below to download) into an accessible and informative website that includes: 

1. Reservation Profile: A comprehensive overview, complete with a clickable map highlighting specific hazards and evacuation routes in each neighborhood.
2. Hazard Information and Risk Analysis: Detailed insights into all potential hazards and the associated risks they pose.
3. Personal Preparedness: Practical guidance for residents on preparing their homes, vehicles, and neighborhoods for potential disasters.

Visit this page frequently for page updates.

PREP Leadership Team

• Shasta Gaughen, Pala Environmental Department Director

• Tina Fernandez, Environmental Educator

• Stephanie Staley, Administrative Assistant

• Matthew Deveney, GIS Specialist

• David Bernie, Pala’s Media Manager

• Jamie Caplan, Consulting Lead, Jamie Caplan Consulting LLC

Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan

The Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan serves as a vital blueprint for the Pala Band of Mission Indians, outlining strategies to effectively reduce the risks posed by natural hazards. Recognizing the potential devastation caused by disasters, including loss of life, damage to property and infrastructure, and threats to tribal sustainability, the plan includes proactive measures to mitigate these impacts. Hazard mitigation is any action taken to minimize the long-term consequences of hazards such as floods, earthquakes, wildfires, and extreme heat.

Within the Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan, a comprehensive assessment of risks to individuals, property, and the environment posed by possible hazards is included. In addition, the plan details a series of mitigation actions and potential projects that the tribe may take to address the identified risks.

It is crucial to note that tribal governments, alongside local, state, and territorial governments, are required to possess a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved Hazard Mitigation Plan to qualify for non-emergency or pre-disaster mitigation funding. This plan is viable for five years.

The Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan undergoes updates every five years to meet FEMA requirements and reflect current circumstances of the tribe. The 2020 Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan represents the tribe’s third update since the plan’s inception in 2006. Presently, the Pala Environmental Department has submitted a grant application to FEMA for funding to facilitate the 2025 plan update.

Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan Chapters

Click on the links below to view and download the chapters of the Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan (2020 Update).

Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan_Cover – Table of Contents, (.pdf, 792 KB)
Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan _Chapter 1 – Introduction, (.pdf, 365 KB)
Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan _Chapter 2 – Reservation Profile, (.pdf, 1.5 MB)
Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan _Chapter 3 – Planning Process, (.pdf, 571 KB)
Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan _Chapter 4 – Risk Assessment, (.pdf, 8.3 MB)
Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan _Chapter 5 – Capability Assessment, (.pdf, 419 KB)
Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan _Chapter 6 – Mitigation Strategy, (.pdf, 483 KB)
Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan _Chapter 7 – Implementation Plan, (.pdf, 228 KB)
Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan _Acronyms and Resources, (.pdf, 222 KB)
Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan _Appendix A – Planning Process Supporting Materials, (.pdf, 1.1 MB)
Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan _Appendix B – Risk Assessment Supporting Materials, (.pdf, 6.2 MB)
Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan _Appendix C – Capability Assessment Supporting Materials, (.pdf, 1.4 MB)
Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan _Appendix D – Mitigation Strategy Supporting Materials, (.pdf, 371 KB)
Pala Hazard Mitigation Plan _Appendix E – Implementation Plan Supporting Materials, (.pdf, 575 KB)

Community Meetings

The Pala Reservation Emergency Preparedness (PREP) program will hold community meetings to share how to keep families and homes safe in case of natural hazards and emergencies.