Responders Race Against Winter to Fix Flooded Alaska Town

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Responders and frustrated residents are racing against a tight deadline to help rebuild a badly flooded town in Alaska’s interior before the region’s unforgiving winter arrives.

The town of Galena is working on a backup plan for alternate local housing in case some homes remain inhabitable by winter, as expected. City manager Greg Moyer says about 80 people from the community of about 500 have not been able to return to their homes yet.

Winterized tents are being constructed in the responder camp to provide housing to those volunteers who will be providing recovery support to the disaster survivors that were affected by severe flooding. The responder camp is constructed by The State of Alaska and designed to provide housing and general everyday services to the recovery workers while they rebuild the homes and businesses that were affected. Adam DuBrowa/ FEMA — Winterized tents are being constructed in the responder camp to provide housing to those volunteers who will be providing recovery support to the disaster survivors that were affected by severe flooding. Adam DuBrowa/ FEMA

Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency stepped in to help after the spring flooding in parts of Alaska were declared a federal disaster.

FEMA says responders are doing the best they can in Galena, given the logistical challenges of working in a community that is far from the state’s limited road system.