Mayor Peter Micciche of the Kenai Borough declared a local state of emergency due to rising water infrastructure on the Western Kenai Peninsula.
Reports of areawide flooding along the Kenai River, neighborhoods in Kenai Keys, Kalifornsky Beach Road, and the Eastern Kenai Peninsula have detailed damage to residential structures and some public infrastructure on the Western Kenai Peninsula.
“My utmost priority as the mayor of the KPB is the life, health, and safety of our residents. I will take any steps necessary within my authority and through our Emergency Management Team to respond and help mitigate damage to private and public property and the infrastructure we all count on daily,” Mayor Micciche said. “A disaster declaration also approved by the governor would help us in our efforts to continue to provide the resources needed to effectively respond and to return life to normalcy as soon as possible in affected areas.”
The disaster declaration allows access to emergency borough funds and the expansion of
authority to respond to the high water conditions being experienced.
In the event that the governor also declares a disaster as requested, the borough would have the assistance of State of Alaska subject matter experts and potential resources and state funds to address the impacts of flooding, the mayor said in a statement.
The request has been formally submitted to Gov. Mike Dunleavy. With the governor’s approval, the State of Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management would also provide assistance to the Borough and to affected areas as directed.
