By WIN GRUENING
A stark reminder of the capriciousness of Mother Nature visited neighboring Haines last week.
Record-breaking rainfall triggered a massive landslide that destroyed multiple homes and left two residents missing and presumed dead. Flooding , high winds, and limited daylight hampered search efforts.
The Haines Borough requested helicopter backup from the Coast Guard and National Guard and some residents of Beach Road were evacuated by boat as conditions remained unstable and adverse weather was predicted to continue.
Approximately 50 displaced families, roughly 10 percent of Haines’ population, were sheltered in emergency housing while awaiting word on when they might safely return to their homes.
Governor Mike Dunleavy signed a disaster declaration that covered storm damage throughout Southeast Alaska, while the search continued in Haines for the two missing residents which was ultimately suspended.
The declaration activated the State of Alaska Public Assistance program designed to help communities, government organizations, and certain non-profits repair utilities, public buildings, roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure damaged in a disaster.
Residents and southeast neighbors rallied to help the community as well. Tlingit and Haida Central Council, Capital City Fire/Rescue, Juneau Mountain Rescue, the Alaska State Troopers, the Red Cross, and the U.S. Coast Guard were among other organizations sending personnel, resources, and expertise to assist.
A K-9 unit from Juneau-based SEADOGS responded on scene with 3 dog teams to aid search efforts. These teams are equipped with radar that can determine how deep the debris pile is. A helicopter in Juneau was fitted with specialized equipment to photograph the slide zone.
Following on the heels of the pandemic, this deluge hit Haines, and other Southeast communities that suffered less damage, particularly hard.
Haines, especially, will need support in recovery efforts even while being mindful of pandemic mandates and precautions. COVID-19 has upended the economy and government resources are stretched to the limit. Its effects have severely hamstrung the many local social service agencies and organizations that react and assist in events such as these. Their funding has largely dried up and many face extreme financial difficulty.
This type of event usually occurs only once in a great while, but it demonstrates the necessity for preparedness on an individual and community level. Without the type of organizations and expertise being brought to bear in this situation, the impacts could be far worse.
It also illustrates the wisdom of conserving resources, especially financial resources, in preparation for an unforeseen event – whether a pandemic or a natural disaster such as occurred in Haines.
Nationwide, voters contributed huge sums of money to political campaigns recently (over $50 million combined on Alaska’s U.S. Senate seat and over $100 million on some Lower 48 Senate elections). Surely, we can all dig a little deeper now and donate to the local first responders and social service agencies that form Alaska’s most effective and cost-efficient safety net in time of disaster.
And can our state and local governments also reassess their funding priorities in this next budget cycle? Any number of government grants and programs at the community, state, and federal level are simply, inarguably, not essential. Perhaps it’s time to prepare for the next pandemic or natural disaster by fortifying our current infrastructure, facilities, and programs to better weather the next unforeseen event.
The City of Haines, T&HCC and The Salvation Army have all started disaster funds. You can also donate to Juneau Mountain Rescue, SEADOGS or directly to two local Haines organizations:
- Haines Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 849, Haines, AK 99827
- Haines Salvation Army, PO Box 550, Haines, AK 99827
As time marches on and memories fade, it is often easy to be distracted from the lessons we learn when disaster strikes. Our priorities drift away from the things that really matter and we spend our money and time on the things that don’t.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
Win Gruening retired as the senior vice president in charge of business banking for Key Bank in 2012. He was born and raised in Juneau and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1970.
Mr. Gruening as always is insightful and on point. What is amazing to me is that he does not highlight the State of Alaska’s existing debt to its citizens, especially during the the greatest economic debacle this state has ever experienced. The AK Leg and Gov could easily provide a remarkable amount of financial relief through the payment of the past due balances of the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 PFD’s. Please send your remarks to your legislators and Governor Dunleavy.
It looks like the hillside above that area is just as subject to the geologic failure as that that did fail. Hopefully, there is some planning gong on but I think the best solution is to move the houses. A stabilization attempt would be monumental in expense.
Haines is a beautiful community, our prayers are with them.
Didn’t we the taxpayers just give Israel the equivalent of over 3k $ for every one of their citizens? Again?
We (U.S.) get 1200$ and likely over a trillion in US debt , 50 billion for a vaccination we may not need (apparently other drugs work fine) , and a devastated economy.
I recall last time congress donated our wealth to Israel, it was amid a government shut down at the first of the year, SB 1 donated 38 billion to a foreign nation with bipartisan support, meanwhile AK was slashing the budget for schools and roads.
It’s just one example of how disconnected our political class is from the working class, our interests are clearly not the same.
Stop crying about when the money available dries up, Individuals and groups are going to have to start learning how to volunteer. Its not all about you. you don’t always need compensation and recognition for ones good deed. Sometimes money and recognition is not available, but work it still needs to be finished in a timely manner.
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