Gov. Mike Dunleavy declared a disaster emergency on Monday for some areas in Alaska affected by severe winter storms.
Dunleavy’s declaration covers the Copper River and Delta/Greely areas, as well as the Fairbanks North Star, Denali and Matanuska-Susitna boroughs.
Extreme winds and cold temperatures have affected the areas. At one point over the weekend, 20,000 households in Mat-Su lost power.
RELATED: Strong winds hammer Mat-Su, leading to widespread damage and power outages
Dunleavy says now is the time to check in with neighbors and stay off the roads if possible.
The declaration activates a program that provides assistance to individuals or families to meet disaster-related necessary expenses and serious needs.
The Mat-Su Borough and American Red Cross established shelters at the Menard Sports Center in Wasilla and Palmer Junior Middle School.
A contingent of National Guard soldiers and airmen are activated in Fairbanks to assist the borough with any transportation needs.
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Andrew Kitchenman is the state government and politics reporter for Alaska Public Media and KTOO in Juneau. Reach him at akitchenman@alaskapublic.org.
