Diamond Point receives supplies

DIAMOND POINT — From 3,000 feet, Diamond Point Airport on the northeast tip of the Miller Peninsula looks like a perilously narrow black ribbon with a dotted line down the middle, bordered by houses and surrounded by forest to the southwest and water the rest of the way around.

But in a time of disaster, that 2,335-foot airstrip could become a lifeline to the outside world for the people who live there.

Diamond Point was one of five airstrips selected by the Clallam County Disaster Airlift Response Team (DART) to be included in an emergency airlift drill on Saturday, originating from William R. Fairchild International Airport in Port Angeles.

More than two tons of donated food and water were flown during the exercise from Port Angeles to Diamond Point, Blue Ribbon Farms Airport northwest of Sequim, Sequim Valley Airport, Sekiu Airport and Quillayute Airport northwest of Forks. The supplies were to be later donated to area food banks.

David Richards, a member of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and safety officer for DART at Diamond Point, said having an air connection to the rest of the world is a valuable resource.

“It’s incredibly important because, if we have a Cascadia event, the Olympic Peninsula is going to be a series of land islands that are separated when the bridges aren’t standing anymore,” he said.

With only one road into the Diamond Point community and tsunami-prone bays on either side of the Miller Peninsula, the area could become isolated by a Cascadia earthquake.

“Having the ability to replenish supplies and essential medications, like high blood pressure and diabetic medications and that sort of stuff is going to be essential in a disaster,” Richards said.

DART volunteer pilot Ray Ballantyne, who is based out of the private Rakes Glen Airstrip near Sequim, was ferrying cargo to Diamond Point in his two-seater Glastar GS-1 during Saturday’s drill.

Ballantyne, who as been an aviator for 52 years, said he would be happy to lend his services in the event of a major disaster.

“I have something that I can offer that would be invaluable in the case of an emergency,” he said. “When you can’t drive somewhere, I can just pop in.

“Without road contact, (DART) can just land and provide (supplies) to people who are isolated by whatever has happened.”

DART was given a taste of disaster last November, when a major landslide blocked state Highway 112 near Seiku, effectively isolating it from the rest of the world.

Ballantyne said the volunteer air team proved its worth during the event.

“We delivered water because they had no access to that,” he said.

Richards, who also helps operate the Diamond Point Airport and lives next to the runway, said Saturday’s drill provided valuable practice should a bigger event rock the North Olympic Peninsula.

“The whole purpose of this is to exercise the system and test the mechanics,” he said.

Ballantyne said neighbors helping neighbors will be essential in a region-wide disaster.

“I do it as a community service and share the resources that I have,” he said.

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Photojournalist Keith Thorpe can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 59050, or at kthorpe@peninsuladailynews.com.