Community organizations and public agencies from across Plumas County gathered at the Quincy branch of the Plumas County Library Dec. 19 to advance work on an emergency food access plan, an effort aimed at ensuring that residents will have food available during the critical first days of a disaster.
The meeting, led by Paul Mrowczynski and Alison Flagler of The Dawn Institute, brought together a broad range of partners, including Plumas County Office of Emergency Services; Plumas County Public Health Agency; Feather River College; Quincy Fire Department; Lost Sierra Food Project; Plumas Rural Services’ Women, Infants and Children program; and the county’s Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster.
The discussion focused on how local agencies and community groups can respond during the first four days of an emergency — before outside aid from organizations such as the Red Cross typically arrives. Organizers emphasized that while Plumas County has demonstrated strong community resilience in past disasters, gaps remain in coordinated emergency food access planning.
A plan born from wildfire experience
Emergency food access planning in Plumas County began in response to the devastating wildfires of 2020 and 2021, which included the Dixie Fire. During these events, organizers noted, although food and volunteer support eventually mobilized, there was no clear guidance in the county’s emergency operations plan addressing how residents could access food in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.
“My experience with the Dixie Fire was that I did not know how to access food for myself or my community,” said Mrowczynski, Dawn Institute board member. A review of the county’s disaster plan, which spans hundreds of pages, revealed no section specifically addressing food access. That prompted conversations with county partners about the need for a dedicated plan.
Those conversations ultimately led to the development of the emergency food access plan, supported, in part, by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Regional Food Systems grant. Only 20 such projects were funded nationwide. Plumas County’s effort received the sole grant award in California — an achievement organizers attribute to five years of persistence and collaboration. Plumas County was awarded $270,000 in funding to establish plans for a resilient regional food system. The goal is to forge strategic partnerships within and among Plumas, Sierra, Lassen and Modoc counties by engaging in community outreach and feedback, developing business plans that will enhance local food market access, and ensuring food security during crises.
Plan purpose and structure
According to the draft, the plan is designed to provide a clear framework for how communities can access food during emergencies, identify responsible agencies and partners and inventory food-related resources across the county. The plan divides Plumas County into five service areas, each with designated coordinators responsible for identifying:
- Food producers, such as farmers and ranchers
- Food providers, including food banks, pantries and grocery stores
- Food preparers and deliverers, such as schools, restaurants and certified kitchens
- Policy leaders and agency representatives
These service-area plans will be coordinated through the volunteer groups and updated regularly to reflect changes in contacts and resources.
Lessons, gaps and opportunities
During the meeting, participants reflected on lessons learned from the recent fires. They identified strengths, including strong volunteer response, effective food bank coordination, emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, local businesses providing free meals and support from outside organizations such as World Central Kitchen and the Red Cross.
Participants also acknowledged ongoing challenges, including limited generator access, power and internet outages, transportation barriers and insufficient food storage and local processing capacity. Rural isolation and staffing constraints continue to complicate local emergency response efforts.
Looking ahead, participants discussed opportunities to strengthen coordination, expand volunteer networks, pursue new funding sources and build more resilient, community-based food systems.
What comes next?
Work on the emergency food access plan will continue at future community meetings planned in the Lake Almanor, Greenville and Portola/Graeagle areas. Strategic planning workshops are scheduled across the county in early 2026, with the goal of presenting the finalized plan to the Plumas County Board of Supervisors for inclusion in the county’s Emergency Operations Plan by fall 2026.
Organizers emphasized that emergency food planning is a critical component of disaster preparedness for rural communities. Through collaboration, persistence and local leadership, Plumas County is working to ensure that no resident is left without access to food when disaster strikes.
