Bill > SR2

This resolution recognizes the critical emergency preparedness role of Aurora State Airport in Oregon, highlighting its historical and strategic importance. Originally built by the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, the airport is now owned by the Oregon Department of Aviation and serves as a key facility for emergency response. The resolution emphasizes the airport's unique capabilities, including its large size (144 acres), minimal predicted soil settlement during seismic events, and strategic location in the Willamette Valley. The airport hosts several critical organizations, including major helicopter companies, Life Flight Network, and the Oregon Disaster Airlift Response Team, and provides over 1 million square feet of potential emergency management space. With its military-grade runway, surrounding agricultural lands that can be used as staging areas, and home to organizations like the Civil Air Patrol, Aurora State Airport is positioned to be a vital resource for emergency supply transportation, medical services, and disaster response in the event of a major seismic event or natural disaster. The resolution salutes the Aurora Airport Improvement Association for continuing to develop the airport's infrastructure to support these essential emergency preparedness efforts.