Go Bags Stocked At Ocean Inn

Manzanita’s oceanfront Ocean Inn took a major step recently to help their guests be prepared to respond to an emergency. Owners Janice and Larry Zagata put emergency GoBags in each of the inn’s 10 rooms, and they may be the first on the coast to do so.

Janice Zagata said the idea came to them during a general preparedness meeting of the Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay. After hearing about GoBags for families, Janice said she asked herself, “What is my responsibility as a business owner to help my customers in an emergency?”

Their next step was to talk over the idea with Jason Johnson, owner of Tonquin Trading Company, a hiking gear and apparel company located in Seaside.

In addition to outfitting people for the outdoor life, Johnson said Tonquin sees providing for emergency preparedness as part of the company’s efforts to help build up a community’s resilience.

“You set your community up for success and in turn they can help with the recovery,” he said.

(Text and photo courtesy of North Coast Citizen)