Gov. Mike Dunleavy declared a state disaster emergency for the Kivalina fire that destroyed two community buildings and damaged electrical and communication lines in Kivalina. The disaster declaration helps fund emergency response efforts and activates the state’s Public Assistance and Individual Assistance Disaster Recovery Programs.
Kivalina is an Inupiat community in House District 40. It is located between the Chukchi Sea and Kivalina River at the tip of an 8-mile barrier reef. Subsistence, including whaling, is a major portion of the local economy and the village is the only one in the region where people hunt bowhead whale. On April 9, Kivalina’s Bingo Hall caught fire. Despite committed local firefighting efforts, the fire spread to a nearby community building and threatened the community’s power plant. The temperatures in Kivalina were a high of 35 and a low of 5 fahrenheit.
While the fire destroyed the Bingo Hall and damaged the community building, local fire response saved the power plant and other structures. Damage to Alaska Village Electric Cooperative power distribution systems resulted in a community wide power outage with over 250 persons sheltering at the school overnight on backup power generation. Severe weather complicated response efforts by the City of Kivalina and the Northwest Arctic Borough.
The Northwest Arctic Borough, Red Dog Mine, Alaska Village Electrical Cooperative, State Fire Marshal, State Emergency Operation Center, along with other agencies, are in communication with the community and engaged in supporting response and recovery. Power was restored on Wednesday to all but 15 homes immediately near the fire area.
“I stand behind the village of Kivalina as we coordinate the response to the damage experienced from the recent fire and the impacts on their power system,” said Rep. Thomas Baker. “My office coordinated with the Governor’s office in requesting a Disaster Declaration, and I am thankful to the administration for the speed with which this was approved. I will be coordinating with state, city, and Tribal organizations to facilitate the recovery and rebuilding efforts of the lost and damaged infrastructure.”
Dunleavy’s declaration comes in response to the City of Kivalina and the Northwest Arctic Borough’s declaration of disaster requesting state assistance.
The disaster declaration activates the state’s disaster Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, and Temporary Housing programs. The Public Assistance program reimburses communities and jurisdictions for emergency response costs, emergency protective measures, and can fund repair of critical infrastructure damaged by the declared disaster event.
The state’s Individual Assistance programs provides grants to individuals and families to help repair damaged housing, meet critical needs, and to provide temporary housing.
