Governor Sean Parnell has issued a disaster declaration for Kivalina, a community within Northwest Arctic Borough. The declaration makes funds available to pay for expenses associated with emergency protective measures and immediate efforts to refill the community’s water holding tanks.
Last month’s heavy rainfall in Kivalina resulted in record flows on the Wulik River, which washed away several sections of the surface water piping and prevented the City of Kivalina from filling the city’s raw water tank.