8/21/19 DISASTER EMERGENCY DECLARATION FOR THE KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH

A declaration has been forwarded to the Alaska Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management as a result of the active wildland fires on the Kenai. The declaration formally requests state aid to supplement local resources. This declaration has been sent to Governor Mike Dunleavy. Upon his approval, State resources can assistance borough and impacted communities in need. It enables the borough to receive available resources to rescue, evacuate, shelter, provide and essential commodities. The frequent Sterling Highway closures has impacted commerce and the transportation of critical supplies that must be addressed now. 

The declaration may also position the State to seek federal assistance when the scope of the event exceeds the State's resources.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough is experiencing historical fire conditions. Residents and visitors are reminded that a burn closure is currently in effect on all public and private lands.

WHEREAS, the Swan Lake Fire started on June 5, 2019 in the Kenai Peninsula Borough on lands managed by the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge has continued to burn since that date; and

WHEREAS, the Sterling Highway is a state highway and, as the only road that completely crosses these lands, provides a vital transportation link from Anchorage to the communities of the western Kenai Peninsula; and

WHEREAS, the Swan Lake fire has and continues to threaten severe damage to life and property, and has required multiple road closures including closure of the Sterling Highway, delays and other significant impacts to transportation for individuals, businesses and of commodities to and from those communities; and

WHEREAS, the recreational areas in the Cooper Landing area have been seriously affected by heavy smoke and the community has suffered many major transportation disruptions; and

WHEREAS, local tourism businesses, particularly in the Cooper Landing area, have reported major disruptions to their normal business patterns; and

WHEREAS, on August 18, 2019, the North Fork fire near Homer, Alaska started and threatens severe damage to property and life; and

WHEREAS, the communities of Sterling, Cooper Landing, Diamond Ridge and areas near the North Fork fire have been placed on a Level I “Ready to be Evacuated” status; and

WHEREAS, on August 19, 2019, the Caribou Lake Fire near East End Road began and grew quickly to over 700 acres, at times threatening severe damage to recreational structures in the area; and

WHEREAS, the Kenai Peninsula Borough has expended significant resources in coordination with the State of Alaska to assist in the response to these fires and protect the public safety; and

WHEREAS, the severity and magnitude of these fires is beyond the authority and capacity of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, a second class borough of the State of Alaska, to provide effective response;

NOW THEREFORE, I declare a Disaster Emergency per AS 26.23.140 to exist in areas throughout the Kenai Peninsula Borough outside of the cities due to the current wildfires and ongoing high fire danger, and as such I have activated the emergency response plan of the Kenai Peninsula Borough in order to address the ongoing response.

FURTHERMORE, the Kenai Peninsula Borough requests that the Governor of the State of Alaska declare a disaster emergency to exist as described in AS 26.23 and provide disaster assistance to the Kenai Peninsula Borough by making available resources as needed in the ongoing response and recovery from the current and potentially future wildfires that may occur during this fire season, to provide individual assistance for affected property owners with property damaged as a result of these fires, and to provide damage assessment assistance, technical expertise and guidance, to help the borough in its response and recovery from this event.

For a PDF of the signed declaration to print of email, click here: https://tinyurl.com/8-21DisasterDec