The New Year is coming in like a lion. Hurricane-force wind howling through the Mat-Su Valley has flipped planes at the Palmer Municipal Airport, toppled trees, and taken the roofs off of buildings as the new year begins. Schools are closed in the Mat-Su Valley due to the wind and damage. City of Wasilla offices are closed, including the Wasilla Police Department’s administrative office.
Winds at the Palmer Airport clocked 81 mph at one point, with blowing snow and debris.
Wasilla Police have asked people to shelter in place. On Facebook, the department pleaded for help from the public to stay off roads and stay home “unless absolutely necessary.” Heavy winds are expected to last until Monday evening.
The KFC-A&W building on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway was heavily damaged by wind starting at about 7 pm Sunday, and debris is blowing throughout the valley, hitting and damaging vehicles and buildings. Many homes and businesses are without power, as the temperature is in the single digits. On Facebook, Wasilla Police warned:
“AVOID THE AREA OF KFC MEANS AVOID THE AREA.”
“Stop trying to get close to take pictures. Our officers vehicles are being hit with debris trying to keep people out of the way. Seriously. GO home and stay there. 
AVOID KFC AND FRED MEYER KFC/A&W has suffered a catastrophic collapse. Please avoid the area due to flying debris and emergency vehicles. There have been multiple reports of debris (not just from KFC) hitting and damaging vehicles. STAY HOME. The borough has advised a shelter in place. The NWS has extended the wind warning to 6pm tomorrow. All City of Wasilla administrative offices are closed tomorrow (including the WPD admin office). Seriously folks, stay home unless absolutely necessary.”
The power is out for thousands who are staying home. In Wasilla, 44 percent of the city is out of power, and in Palmer proper, 52 percent lack power. Palmer Fishhook and Sutton homes are about 99.5 percent out of power. The MEA power outage map is here.
Meanwhile, in Juneau, Thane Road is closed due to a major avalanche after an epic snowstorm brought as much as 16 inches of snow at sea level over the weekend, combined with “Taku winds” of 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 70 mph. Power is out in Thane, a neighborhood south of the town center. AEL&P said that line workers can’t access the lines by road, due to the avalanche that went all the way into Gastineau Channel and will attempt to fly in a crew in the morning on Monday, but advised that “Customers affected should be prepared for an extended outage.”
Sugar Fegley posted a photo on Facebook of the avalanche covering the road on Sunday.
Hopefully FEMA will show up and start vaccinating people
Remember people stay safe wear yur mask??
If we’re lucky this will keep the legislature out of Juneau while we deal with our own problems.
Alaskans have come to realize this is everyday life this time of year. I didn’t see anybody walking for the purpose of taking pictures. However I did see people carrying on as usual. We understand that putting off tasks due to the weather will get nothing done. This is what makes Alaska’s resilient.
This is extreme by anybody’s standards. Glad your glass is half full though.
It’s actually not everyday, by definition, when it’s classified as extreme and unusual.
I’m just waiting for global warming to sink Juneau. Alaskans for global warming.
I’m thinking Juneau is still rising due to hydrostatic rebound. Heheh!
Regarding Juneau: As a seat of government Juneau cannot safely grrow government as is the former habit of liberals. See, Juneau has breached its limits already. Better come to Southcentral to continue to expand inclusive, diverse public employment.
Why would you want to grow government? We need to shrink it if anything.
I agree. I was being insincere for a minute.
Palmer has always been notorious for its winds, but WOW!
I do feel very bad for all those who are without power (and for how long?) in these kinds of temperatures.
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PS: There is no such place as “The Mat-Su Valley”. There is the Matanuska Valley, in which Palmer is located, and there is the Susitna Valley, in which Wasilla and points north past Talkeetna are located.
She might have meant Mat-Su Borough in the article.
I realize that, Maria, but I hear ignorant people saying “The Mat-Su Valley” all the time. Or even worse, just “the valley”, as if in the entire world there is only one valley. Why are people so damned lazy nowadays? It even affects their speech now.
Police can warn . Be best let the people learn the hard way after they recieved warning. Then they have no one to blame except themself. You never know what a motive is like someone is photographing for history matters.
Stay home?? It’s my freedom and liberty to LEAVE WHEN I WANT and WHERE I WANT TO! Leave me alone!!
I don’t understand why these people don’t understand we came to Alaska to get away from controlling psychos. There’s nothing the lower 48 has to offer that we want. We share our state out of mutual interest of national defense.
Don’t call anybody when you’re upsidedown in the ditch
Some came for the adventure. Some for the cash. Some to hide. I came for the first two since I follow the rules of law.
What about fruits and vegetables?
Also, who are these People? The Wasilla police? Law and Order. Back the blue. Or is that just catnip for the GQP?
These guys talk a big game, but when it comes time to walk the walk, their principles vanish.
I agree. I was being insincere for a minute.
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