NEAH BAY — The Makah Tribal Council will address community members at 1 p.m. today in the Community Hall on Bayview Avenue about an emergency management plan if the community runs out of water.
The Tribal Council declared a state of emergency on Tuesday alerting state and federal officials to the fact that the community’s two water sources — the Waatch River and Educkett Reservoir — are almost dry.
With heavy water restrictions put in place Tuesday for the 1,800 residents of Neah Bay, the tribe has maintained a level of 625,000 gallons of water in its treatment plant, Makah Public Works Manager David Lucas said.
However, if the tribe’s two water sources should dry up completely, the 625,000 gallons would last only about a day-and-a-half, Lucas said.
Since Tuesday, the Tribal Council has met tribal department managers and officials from Indian Health Services, Clallam County and the state Emergency Management Division and state Department of Health while compiling a contingency plan.
First step tribal resources
The first part of the plan would rely on tribal emergency resources, said Kurt Hardin, mitigation and response recovery manager for the state’s Emergency Management Division.
After the tribe has exhausted all of its own emergency resources, the state would step in, Hardin said.
Specifics of the plan weren’t available Thursday, but will be discussed in detail with community members today.
For a full list of water restrictions in place, phone the Neah Bay fact line at 360-645-3228.
Makah Public Works and Neah Bay police will turn off water to residences and businesses that violate water restrictions issued Tuesday.
To report water leaks or violations, phone Neah Bay Public Safety at 360-645-2701.
