Diamond Point Airport, shown on Saturday, is expected to provide a lifeline to the outside world in the event of a major disaster that could hamper other means of transportation. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

Diamond Point Airport, shown on Saturday, is expected to provide a lifeline to the outside world in the event of a major disaster that could hamper other means of transportation. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

Diamond Point receives supplies

In a tsunami, Miller Peninsula could be isolated

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.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

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.

________

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

Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News DART volunteer pilot Ray Ballantyne of Sequim prepairs his airplane for a training airlift to Diamond Point Airport from Port Angeles on Saturday.

Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News DART volunteer pilot Ray Ballantyne of Sequim prepairs his airplane for a training airlift to Diamond Point Airport from Port Angeles on Saturday.

Kevin Deselms transports cases of bottled water after it was airlifted from Port Angeles during a DART training exercise on Saturday at Diamond Point Airport. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

Kevin Deselms transports cases of bottled water after it was airlifted from Port Angeles during a DART training exercise on Saturday at Diamond Point Airport. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

More in News

Perhaps a better start of the race shot. The eventual winner is the fellow with the SF cap named Kyle Bardwell. And directly behind him in pink is the eventual female winner Sarah Paquet. dlogan
RUN THE PENINSULA: More than 330 brave the cold at Elwha Bridge Run

More than 330 runners and walkers braved temperatures in… Continue reading

x
Nominations open for Community Service awards

Forms due March 25; event scheduled for May 1

Fresh out of the oven, three students in the Chimacum High School culinary arts program separate cookies that were to be judged by a panel of experts during their final midterm exam on Tuesday. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Chimacum students learning skills to become ready for workforce

Career and technical education one way for community impact

Coast Artillery Museum volunteers Ron Raplee, left, and Les Jones at the Coast Artillery Museum on Friday. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Fort tenants remain optimistic

Nonprofits plan to continue robust programming

f
Readers give $112K in donations to fund

Grant program to be announced this spring

Port Angeles launches over-the-counter permitting

The city of Port Angeles is launching an over… Continue reading

Mike McAleer.
Mike McAleer, a ‘community pillar,’ dies at 86

Volunteer work included Rotary, Sequim chamber board

Madeline Jones of Forks gives a push to her daughter, Amelia Jones, 2, during a family outing at the Dream Playground at Erickson Playfield on Thursday in Port Angeles. They took advantage of a mild midwinter day while facing the prospect of colder conditions forecast for the coming week. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Midwinter swing

Madeline Jones of Forks gives a push to her daughter, Amelia Jones,… Continue reading

Logging pause won’t affect parcels sold

‘Legacy forests’ off agenda, for now

Port Angeles community awards to be presented Saturday

Three finalists named in each of six categories

Executive Director Karly Mishko opens the Horticulture Building at Jefferson County Fairgrounds on Thursday. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Jefferson Fairgrounds hires executive director

Karly Mishko has ambitions to expand community engagement