Alaska
Congressional delegation pledges support as FEMA joins Western Alaska storm response
A day after Gov. Mike Dunleavy asked President Donald Trump to approve a major disaster declaration for Western Alaska to unlock funding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency confirmed it had received the request and sent staff to Alaska, but did not provide a timeline for approving the disaster declaration.
“We’re in receipt of the governor’s request and working closely with Alaska and talking with the leadership hand in hand,” the FEMA press office wrote Saturday in an unsigned statement.
The request for the disaster declaration came days after the remnants of Typhoon Halong battered several villages in Western Alaska, leaving one person dead and two missing as dozens of homes floated off their foundations. Hundreds of residents from Kipnuk, Kwigillingok and other communities have been evacuated to Bethel and Anchorage.
As of Friday, 64 FEMA staff were dedicated to the Alaska storm response, the officials wrote, including two state liaison officers, two tribal liaisons and two mass care specialists who are embedded at the State Emergency Operations Center in Anchorage to provide technical assistance to the state and tribal partners.
FEMA also activated a response coordination center in Washington state and began collecting imagery of the impacted areas to provide early damage assessments to responders, officials wrote.
Members of Alaska’s congressional delegation in speeches at the annual Alaska Federation of Natives convention on Friday and Saturday praised the response from local, state and federal agencies.
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski called the response from FEMA and other organizations “fabulous.”
However, she said she remained concerned about next steps in assisting impacted communities and residents.
“As with every disaster, it seems that complications always come when you are in that recovery end of things, when you’re actually working through individual assistance applications,” she told reporters in Anchorage.
She said there could be challenges for Yup’ik speakers who are not fluent in English in filling out FEMA forms that are not adapted to the unique concerns of rural Alaska.
“So I’m not worried about the immediate — I’m worried about what comes next,” she said.
Murkowski, along with U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan and U.S. Rep. Nick Begich, pledged their commitment to ensure the federal government assists impacted individuals.
Begich said he intends to work with Murkowski and Sullivan “to pursue every opportunity available to ensure that families have both the immediate relief that they need and the long-term support that they need to get back on their feet.”
Sullivan praised a social media post from Vice President JD Vance, who wrote on Friday that the federal government is working to get help to affected Alaskans.
“I think that’s good when it comes from the top of the administration,” Sullivan said.
Murkowski was the first member of the congressional delegation to have visited the impacted region, with a short trip to Bethel and Kipnuk on Friday. She provided a more detailed view of what lies ahead during her Anchorage speech.
“It’s pretty powerful to observe first, to hear carefully what the needs are, before we swoop in from Washington or from afar to tell you what to do in your communities,” Murkowski said.
“I want to underscore — what you decide is best, because I will not accept that there are those who are from Washington, D.C., from other parts of the country, who have never been to your region, who have never heard your stories, that they feel that somehow they can determine your future,” Murkowski said, addressing a crowd of hundreds of Alaska Native people from across the state, including the region hit hardest by the storm.
Murkowski said that after meeting with teachers in the Kipnuk school, she thought it was important for children from the affected community to be kept together, even if they are unable to return to their village site for the foreseeable future.
“The more that we can keep these children and these families together in these communities while they are displaced, while they are out of their home, that is what we can do to help them,” Murkowski said.
Murkowski also took time in her speech to respond to the Environmental Protection Agency, which this week defended its decision to rescind a $20 million erosion mitigation grant awarded to Kipnuk — one of the hardest-hit villages — under the previous administration.
In a social media post, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the cancellation of the grant prevented the money from being “swept into the Kuskokwim River.”
Murkowski said she was “offended” by the comment.
“I am outright mad that some have suggested that it is a waste of taxpayer dollars to protect Alaskan communities. We are Americans. Every single person that has been impacted is an American that deserves to be treated with that level of respect,” Murkowski said, eliciting prolonged applause.
The Kipnuk grant would likely not be revived, Murkowski said, “but we’re working to get some portion of that funding to go toward Kipnuk again.”
“We’re still fighting for the funding that we secured, including the resilience grants for Kipnuk that were canceled earlier this year, and while that funding may not have come in time to prevent the disaster that we saw this past week, they may prevent future disasters, and that’s the point,” said Murkowski.
Murkowski said that the Alaska congressional delegation would “keep pushing the administration” to restore funding meant for Alaska, after dozens of grants were canceled earlier this year due to Trump’s targeting of renewable energy and climate change initiatives.
“Simply recovering from this storm isn’t enough,” Murkowski said. “We have to be ready for the next one and the next one to follow, in Kipnuk and in every village, because these once-in-a-century storms are now arriving seemingly every year, and we have to prepare.”
• • •
Related stories:
Alaska Federation of Natives calls for emergency declaration from Trump in wake of typhoon disaster
A village in ruins: ‘I don’t see Kipnuk anymore’
Relief workers look to begin ‘mucking out’ flood-damaged homes in Western Alaska
Gov. Dunleavy requests federal disaster declaration after Western Alaska storm
Anchorage coordinates to help more than 1,000 Western Alaska storm evacuees as mayor declares civil emergency
Here’s how to help those affected and displaced by Western Alaska storms
EPA defends canceling coastal erosion grant to hard-hit Kipnuk
Officials for years knew about flood risks in rural Alaska. The recent storm illustrated how little they have to show for it.
Volunteers are evacuating pets from a flooded Western Alaska village, 1 plane at a time
Two US soldiers were wounded by a brown bear during a training exercise in Alaska on Thursday, the US Army stated.
Anchorage Daily News reported that the soldiers were from the 11th Airborne Division, and that the exercise had been a “land navigation training event” near Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
State wildlife officials said that the bear attack seemed to be a defensive one, from a bear which had recently emerged from its den. Staff members from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game collected evidence at the scene in an attempt to learn more about the bear, such as its species and gender.
“The incident is currently under investigation, and we are working closely with installation authorities and local wildlife officials to gather all relevant information and ensure the safety of all personnel in the area,” the 11th Airborne Division said in a statement, reported ABC News.
ABC News also cited an 11th Airborne Division spokesperson, Lt.-Col. Jo Nederhoed, who said that the two soldiers had been seriously wounded, but were receiving care at a hospital in Anchorage, and had shown improvement by Saturday morning.
“We hope both individuals have a full and quick recovery, and our thoughts are with them during this time,” Fish and Game Regional Supervisor Cyndi Wardlow said in a statement reported by Anchorage Daily News. “In this case, having bear spray with them in the field may have saved their lives.”
Both of the soldiers reportedly had and used bear spray during the attack.
The bear’s condition and whereabouts are currently unknown.
Up, up and away … that’s where most travel prices are going.
It’s true. Not only are our nation’s geopolitical thrusts in the Mideast affecting the cost of your fill-ups, every component of your trip from airfares to car rentals and hotel stays are subject to price hikes.
Imagine filling up a jetliner with jet fuel that’s doubled in price. It’s enough to melt your credit card, regardless of the number of points you get for every dollar spent!
Because the price of oil affects everything, higher prices are eating away at your travel budget in many ways.
Bag fees
There’s lots of press on this. All airlines are increasing their checked-bag fees because of the jump in fuel prices.
Back in 2009, Alaska Airlines instituted a $15 fee for the first checked bag and $25 for the second bag. At the time, there was no charge for the first bag and a second bag was $25.
Last week, Alaska Airlines, along with other major airlines, increased its fees to $45 for the first checked bag and $55 for the second bag. Delta Air Lines charges the same.
Even if the cost of oil comes down, I don’t expect bag fees will ever be reduced.
Travelers who live in Alaska are somewhat insulated from the new hikes because both Delta and Alaska Airlines offer two free checked bags, with conditions:
1. Alaska offers two free checked bags for travelers flying to or from Alaska who are enrolled in Club 49. This does not affect other flights on Alaska. Separately, ATMOS credit card holders can get a free checked bag. Also, elite members of the ATMOS scheme get one or two free checked bags systemwide.
2. Delta offers two free checked bags for travelers flying to or from Alaska who are SkyMiles members who live in Alaska. Again, this does not apply to other Delta flights. Separately, Delta American Express cardholders can get a free checked bag.
3. Elite-level travelers with the oneworld airline cartel, including Alaska Airlines, can get one or two checked bags on American, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Qantas or other oneworld carriers.
[Anchorage’s international airport rolls out self-driving wheelchairs]
Main Cabin vs. Basic Economy
The spread between the lowest available price, Basic Economy, and a more flexible ticket, Main Cabin, has increased. While the difference used to be $20-$30 each way when the Basic Economy scheme was introduced in 2018, the round-trip upcharge now can exceed $100.
For example, the lowest Basic fare to Portland is $337 round-trip on Alaska Airlines. The upcharge to Main Cabin, with full loyalty points, pre-assigned seats and more flexibility on changes and cancellations, is $447, a 33% upcharge.
This trend is not specifically attributable to the new Iran War. It’s just a cost that continues to rise.
New fees
I’m impressed at the creativity of airline people who dream up new fees. Here are some of my favorites from Alaska Airlines:
1. Phone reservations: $15
2. Partner award booking fee: $12.50
3. Pet travel fee: $100 in the cabin, $200 in the baggage compartment with a kennel
4. Left on board item return fee: $20
On Condor Airlines, operating the only nonstop service from Anchorage to Europe, travelers can choose from four different bundles in economy class. The least-expensive, Economy Zero, from $840 round-trip, features fees for travelers:
1. Carry-on bag fee, up to 8kg: $35; a small bag like a purse always is included for free
2. Checked bag: $75
3. Airport check-in: $30
All three of these fees are included in the next-highest fare bucket, Economy Classic, from $900 round-trip. It’s cheaper to buy the bundle than it is to buy the components a la carte. Seat assignments are additional, from $25 for economy.
Airfares on the rise
There are a few good deals available for travel to select West Coast/Intermountain destinations in May, including:
1. Anchorage-San Francisco on Alaska Airlines, from $307 round-trip. Fly May 15-28 only. Add $90 round-trip for Main cabin.
2. Anchorage-Los Angeles on Alaska Airlines, from $317 round-trip. May 15-25 only. Add $90 round-trip for Main.
3. Anchorage-Phoenix on United, Delta or Alaska, from $267-$287 round-trip. Fly May 8-June 9 only. Add $90-$100 for Main.
4. Anchorage-Denver $357 round-trip on Delta. Fly May 8-June 9 only. Add $90 round-trip for Main.
For travel to other destinations, or later in the summer, be prepared to pay more.
Flying to Hawaii? Alaska Air’s nonstop prices out at $706 round-trip between May 30 and June 6. Add $110 round-trip for Main.
Nonstop flights from Anchorage to Salt Lake City start at $669 round-trip with Delta on May 17. That’s $100 more than the cost for the same flights last month. Add $90 more for Main.
Hotel costs continue to rise, accompanied by pesky resort fees.
The Outrigger on the Beach in Waikiki is a very nice beachfront hotel. It’s not plush, or the nicest property. But it’s solid. The cost is $334 per night.
But there’s more: a $50 per night resort fee, plus a variety of taxes and charges, totaling $112.55 per night.
Down in Seattle, the Sound Hotel in the Belltown neighborhood is marketed by Hilton. The discounted rate for “Honors” members — it’s free to join — is $313.34 per night for a king room in late May. Taxes and fees add an extra $56.40 per night.
There’s no appreciable bump yet for hotel rates as a result of the oil price surge. Yet. But if these hotel rates seem high, they’re in line with hotel rates in Anchorage this summer. At the Sheraton in Anchorage in June, it’s $450 per night, plus $54 in taxes and fees, when booked at Expedia.
Car rentals are not cheap
My go-to site for car rentals is the Costco site, which compares major brands and automatically includes Costco discounts.
In Las Vegas, for a one-day rental in May, Budget charges $67 per day, which includes taxes and fees of $22.77. In Anchorage, the same kind of car, medium SUV, costs $92.97 with Alamo.
The biggest differences so far in car rental rates seems to be the bill you’ll pay when you fill up the tank before returning. There’s no appreciable jump in prices because of the new war.
When it comes to making travel arrangements for the spring and summer, it’s more risky making completely non-refundable arrangements.
I made the decision to purchase most of my summer travel plans in advance, but only after determining I would not need to change the dates. Particularly with airline tickets, it’s expensive to change your dates.
There’s lots of uncertainty regarding travel arrangements, particularly international travel. As fuel prices go up due to oil shortages, travel companies will look for ways to recoup the increased costs. In most cases, those higher costs will be borne by travelers.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has led to a decrease in oil prices nationally, but Alaska’s senior senator said the state faces a different situation that could threaten rural communities.
“If you can’t produce power because you don’t have the diesel or you just can’t pay the prices, your little communities can collapse,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said at a Friday press conference at the Arctic Encounter Summit in Anchorage.
The price of oil has been a double-edged sword for Alaska. On one hand, the increased price of North Slope oil brings more revenue to the state, but consumer prices can also rise.
North Slope oil prices were $106.36 a barrel on Thursday.
“This is a very precarious time,” Murkowski said. “Our state has enjoyed a bounty because we have benefited from the higher prices of oil that goes into our treasury, but it’s the Alaskans in … the off-road communities that are threatened to be hit most hard.”
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