Planada- One Year Later –

Community Recovering from Devastating Floods

The community of Planada in Merced County one year after the entire town was flooded by January 2023 rains. Photo: Steve Newvine

When driving through the streets in Planada, Merced County, in January 2024, it’s clear the community is on the mend.

One year ago, the community was coping with floodwater when heavy rains made life difficult for everyone.

Within hours of the disaster, help was on the way. Residents were evacuated to shelters. The Sheriff’s Department set up roadblocks to protect the abandoned homes from looters.

Shortly after the rains ended, residents could return to their homes. Emergency food and water supplies were brought in. Right away, volunteers began jumping in to offer their time.

Photos from the early aftermath of the floods in Planada. Photos: Steve Newvine

Early pictures taken about a week after the floods showed streets lined with debris.

Large trailers from such organizations as Salvation Army and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association set up in the center of town.

A trailer with dozens of washers and dryers was moved in so that residents could catch up on laundry. Daily food distribution followed.

One year later, the debris is gone, the relief organizations have long since moved on to the next critical area of need, and Planada is slowly moving on with what looks like normal.

“I’d guess we are at about seventy-five percent back,” one resident told me as he looked through his neighborhood in mid-January.

The U S Post Office in Planada closed immediately after the floods, and as of January 2024, remained closed. Photo: Steve Newvine

Many of the businesses that were damaged during the 2023 flooding are back up and running.

One notable exception is the U S Post Office that closed after the floods, and as of this writing, is still not open to serve residents.

Some wondered how an agency of the federal government could not find a solution to reopen a post office, even if in temporary quarters.

“We’ve had to go to Merced to pick up our mail,” one resident said.

Inquiries as to the reopening of the post office were being referred by the Town to the postmaster’s office in Merced.

Calls to that office get a recorded message that encourages the caller to remain on the line.

After a two-to-three minute wait, a busy signal is heard over the line.

On our visit in mid-January, contractors were working on painting parts of the post office building. A contractor pointed out how the gutters and drainage system had to be replaced as well.

“More than one contractor, and a landlord from outside the area,” is how one resident described the likely reasons why it has taken more than a year to get the post office building back into shape.

Scenes from the community of Planada one year after the floods of January 2023. Photo compilation: Steve Newvine

On January ninth, the Merced County Board of Supervisors heard a presentation on how a twenty-million dollar state and federal aid allocation will be distributed to help homeowners and business operators recoup some of their out-of-pocket expenses related to the flood aftermath.

According to the presentation, about forty-percent of the money will go toward home repair.

Direct assistance programs for residents will consume a little over twenty-percent.

The rest will go to business support services with about ten-percent of the total going to administration of the money.

It is money that has been promised since the early weeks after the flooding.

There were hearings to find out what the people of Planada wanted as priorities. There was also some frustration over early scenarios about how the money should be spent.

The real test may come as the community sees the government aid come into the area.

The County of Merced will work with community organizations in February on outreach to residents and business owners.

They will explain the aid package and offer help on how to apply. Applications will be accepted beginning March 11 and be closed by April 20.

Today, the streets of Planada show little sign of the horrific damage done by the January 2023 flooding.

Most homes look like they did before the storms. Signs promoting candidates in the upcoming County Supervisor race dot some of the lawns.

It’s been a year of ups and downs as the community rebuilds.

A year ago, the sounds of debris removal trucks and building repair power tools permeated the town in the weeks following the storm.

Today, those sounds are mostly gone; replaced by a weary silence as residents wait on promised financial help.

There is hope however that the wait will soon be over for the reopening of the town’s post office.

Steve Newvine lives in Merced.

His new book, Beaten Paths and Back Roads is available for sale at the Merced Courthouse Museum Gift Shop or online at BEATEN PATHS AND BACK ROADS (lulu.com)

The website Planada20M.com has been set up for residents and businesses impacted by the floods to view the application process for relief.

The Turkey Bird and a Future President-

Merwin Amerine’s Contribution to Ronald Reagan’s Legacy

One of President Reagan’s White House Turkey Pardoning Ceremonies. The annual event connects the former President to a Central Valley turkey farmer. Photo: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

There is a colorful sidebar to our Central Valley history that combines elements of aviation, turkeys, and Ronald Reagan.  

The story of Stanislaus County turkey farmer Mervin Amerine is one of bravery, business savvy, and preparation meeting opportunity.

He was a World War II bomber pilot who served proudly in the Pacific. He headed the crew that took photographs of Hiroshima before and after the atomic bombing.

He piloted the B-29 Superfortress bomber.

Merwin and Nancy Amerine are believed to be at President Reagan’s left in this photo from the 1983 Turkey Pardoning Ceremony. Merwin served as a pilot in WW II and then built up a successful turkey farm operation following the war. Photo: George H.W. Bush Presidential Library archive.

Following his military service Merwin, who preferred to be called Merv, was a successful turkey farmer and a staunch promoter of the birds he bred at Amerine Turkey Breeding Farms in Oakdale.

Merv also loved flying and is credited with using planes to deliver newly hatched turkeys to farmers around the country.

He used a converted World War II DC 3 airplane to deliver the young birds (also known as poults).

At one time, he was credited with flying forty-eight thousand live birds all over the country at one time.

Bill Mattos heads the California Poultry Industry Federation trade association and he spoke highly of the contributions Merv (who passed in 2008) made to the turkey industry in California.

He told an interviewer, “Merv had a flair for marketing, and he understood the industry.” 

Merv’s marketing savvy found another use for his piloting skills and his turkey transport aircraft.

In 1966 during Ronald Reagan’s first campaign for California Governor, the candidate hated to fly. Yet, Reagan knew that to take his campaign all over the massive state, he’d have to find a way.

The Oakdale turkey farmer was an early supporter of Reagan’s candidacy.

He is credited with helping to ease the candidate’s worries about flying.

Promising the campaign he would convert one of his planes from carrying turkeys to carrying the candidate and his team, Merv got the go-ahead.  

Soon, the turkey transport was named “Turkey Bird” and it took Reagan to every corner of the state.

That first flight carried the future Governor to Angels Camp in Calaveras County.

The Turkey Bird display at the Castle Air Museum indoor exhibit area. Photo: Steve Newvine

The rest, to borrow the cliché, is history.

Ronald Reagan served two terms as governor and two terms as President of the United States.  

The actor-turned-governor and eventually President would get over his fear of flying thanks to Merwin and those early flights aboard the Turkey Bird.

The former President did not forget Merv’s role in the 1966 campaign. He said of the Oakdale turkey farmer, “Merv had done more to ease my concerns about flying than anyone else.”   

In 1983, the President and Mrs. Reagan invited Merv and his wife Nancy to the White House for the annual White House Turkey Pardoning ceremony.

A Washington Post story references how the President spent time with the Amerines reminiscing about those California campaign flights aboard the Turkey Bird.

The Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California. Photo: Steve Newvine

We know a little bit more about the Turkey Bird and Merv Amerine thanks to a display in the indoor exhibit space at the Castle Air Museum. 

It’s interesting to note that in addition to the Turkey Bird exhibit, the Museum is also home to the Douglas VC-93 Presidential Aircraft.

The plane was Air Force One during part of President Reagan’s time in office.

The next time you or someone you know take in the tour of Air Force One at the Castle Air Museum, consider spending a few extra minutes to see the display about the Turkey Bird and how it helped elect Ronald Reagan to the governor’s office in California.  

Steve Newvine lives in Merced.

He is grateful to Castle Air Museum, the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library, and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for their archive of photos and narrative in preparing this column. Photographs of Merv and Nancy Amerine’s 1983 White House visit are hard to track and we hope our efforts have paid off.

His new book Beaten Paths & Back Roads is available at Lulu.com or at the Merced County Courthouse Museum Gift Shop or online at BEATEN PATHS AND BACK ROADS (lulu.com)