Disaster Cited for Alaska Area Hit by Storms

Governor Sean Parnell has declared coastal western Alaska areas ravaged by storms state disaster zones.

The governor made the announcement Saturday evening after meeting with residents in the Northwest Arctic Borough, Bering Straits Regional Education Attendance Area, and Lower Yukon.

A series of storms battered the areas earlier in November with powerful winds, strong seas and freezing rain and snow.

The governor’s office says that the declaration opens access to state disaster relief funds to repair infrastructure and some homes.

The governor held a town hall meeting in Kotlik where concerns included the well-being of the elders and lost food stores. Kotlik was among the worst hit as the storm damaged the water and sewer distribution system.

In Unalakleet, officials have said that several homes were damaged by surging sea waters and a section of pipe carrying untreated water to the treatment plant was damaged.