A comment by an Oscoda Township board member stating the Federal Emergency Management Agency would use the Oscoda-Wurtsmith airport as an emergency response hub sparked alarm and rumors online.
Last month, supervisor Bill Palmer said FEMA was using Oscoda-Wurtsmith airport for emergency stationing and would bring in 350 trucks with equipment.
“The airport was just notified that FEMA has chosen the airport facility as
a stationing hub for emergency services,” he said at a meeting from Oct. 28. “If you see a lot of trucks coming into the base, that's what it is, it's nothing to get scared about.”
This caught fire online, with internet users expressing confusion and outrage.
“We're getting calls from Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida,” said Michigan State Rep. Mike Hoadley (R-Au Gres).
The story was sparked by what Palmer says was a mistake.
“I misspoke at the board meeting on October 28th saying that FEMA was bringing in trailers," Palmer told WCMU. "When I should have said that they were considering the Wurtsmith airport as a location.”
Palmer said that he wanted to make people aware and quell any concerns. He is also on the Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport Authority board, which is a separate entity.
“I apologize to everyone for that, that mistake,” he added. Palmer said FEMA, “were looking at five or six other locations besides Wurtsmith.”
In a statement to WCMU, FEMA said that they “routinely assesses the viability of sites that may be used in future disasters. There is no plan to use the Wurtsmith location to stage commodities at this time.”
The Agency added that “We have no trailers at the location or on the way. This is an unfortunate misunderstanding."
Hoadley said that FEMA met with airport officials two months ago, and they conducted a routine review to see if the site could work as a staging site for a potential emergency, if ever needed.
“We've got to stay focused on the things we do know and, and not speculate on things, or create more questions than answers,” Hoadley said.
