The Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians successfully launched the inaugural Emergency Tribal Access Pass (ETAP) program, welcoming more than 300 Tribal leaders, emergency management professionals, first responders and regional partners to the Rincon Government Center for the first training of its kind in San Diego County.

The event marked the official launch of the first Emergency Tribal Access Pass program in San Diego County and the first multi-Tribal implementation of its kind in California, bringing together Tribal governments and public safety agencies to strengthen emergency coordination and improve access to Tribal communities during wildfires and other emergencies.

Developed through a collaborative partnership between the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, the County of San Diego Office of Emergency Services, and the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association, the ETAP program establishes standardized emergency access credentials and joint training for authorized Tribal personnel and public safety partners.

Historically, emergency road closures have presented challenges for Tribal governments attempting to access their own reservations during disasters. The ETAP program helps address this long-standing issue by creating a coordinated process that enables authorized Tribal personnel to safely access restricted areas when appropriate, while maintaining close coordination with law enforcement and incident commanders.

“This program represents an important step forward in strengthening emergency preparedness and collaboration between Tribal governments and our regional public safety partners,” said Rincon Tribal Chairman Steve Stallings. “By working together before emergencies occur, we can better protect our communities while ensuring Tribal governments are able to continue
serving their people when they are needed most.”

Throughout the afternoon, attendees participated in comprehensive training covering the ETAP framework, incident command, communications, wildfire safety, evacuation procedures and checkpoint access protocols. Upon successful completion of the training, participants received their Emergency Tribal Access Passes.

The ETAP pilot serves as a model for improving coordination between Tribal governments and emergency response agencies and reflects a shared commitment to public safety, preparedness and government-to-government collaboration. Organizers hope the program will inform future policy discussions and broader implementation throughout California.