Flood Preparedness Week – Mike Dunleavy

WHEREAS, spring in Alaska brings the potential for devastating floods brought on by ice jams in rivers, coastal storm surging, excessive precipitation, and fast thawing of winter snow and ice that threatens lives, property, and group economies alongside main waterways; and

WHEREAS, practically 9 out of ten Alaska Native villages expertise flooding and/or erosion yearly; and

WHEREAS, the Yukon River ice jam flood in Might of 2013 resulted in a federal catastrophe declaration and the mixed prices to state and federal governments reached upwards of $80 million; and

WHEREAS, flood occasions make up 75 % of all presidential declarations of emergency and main disasters nationwide; and

WHEREAS, the potential for lack of life and harm to property and detrimental results on the financial system will be tremendously lowered if acceptable flood preparedness and mitigation measures are taken earlier than and after flood occasions; and

WHEREAS, the Alaska Silver Jackets, a crew made up of federal, state, and native companies, serves as a facilitator in creating complete and sustainable options to flood hazard points together with mitigation planning, flood hazard mapping, danger discount actions, and response and restoration planning in Alaska; and

WHEREAS, Flood Preparedness Week is meant to teach Alaskans on the potential danger to life and property from flooding and to advertise planning and preparedness for flood occasions.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Mike Dunleavy, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ALASKA, do hereby proclaim April 16 – 22, 2023 as:

Flood Preparedness Week

in Alaska, and encourage Alaskans to teach themselves concerning the potential for flood hazard at their houses and of their communities and to share that data with their neighbors.

Dated: April 16, 2023