GA Airport Turned Into Emergency Base In Storm-Ravaged California

Ocean Ridge Airport's 2,504-foot runway is expected to be a basecamp for power company workers through the end of February.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, January 09, 2023 at 06:23 PM ET

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Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is using Ocean Ridge Airport as an emergency staging area amid widespread power outages in California. [Courtesy: Mike Nelson]

Key Takeaways:

Ocean Ridge Airport (E55), a privately-owned facility in rural California, is currently serving as a critical emergency staging area for PG&E.
PG&E is housing approximately 300 crew members and deploying resources from the airport to restore power after severe atmospheric rivers caused extensive damage and blackouts across the state.
The airport has been temporarily closed to regular fixed-wing air traffic, transforming into a "pop-up city" with housing, amenities, and equipment to support the restoration efforts.
This situation demonstrates the vital role even small, private airports can play as public resources during large-scale emergencies, despite ongoing debates about their potential redevelopment.

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One of the arguments used to protect airports from closure and redevelopment is that they are public resources, especially in times of emergency. That’s exactly what is happening at Ocean Ridge Airport (E55) on the coast of California.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)—the company that provides the bulk of California’s power—is using the airport as an emergency staging area as wave after wave of atmospheric rivers come in from the Pacific knocking out power. As of Monday afternoon, at least 12 deaths had been attributed to the storm, some by flood waters or by falling trees that were knocked down by the combination of saturated soil and strong winds.