Anchorage city leaders voted Friday to extend an emergency declaration as the city welcomes hundreds of people displaced by heavy flooding in Western Alaska from Typhoon Halong.
Following a disaster declaration from Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance declared a local emergency, which the Assembly voted to extend to mid-December. LaFrance said the proclamation allows the city to quickly mobilize resources to help those in need.
“It will allow us to reallocate resources and deploy staff as necessary to support the state's emergency response,” LaFrance said.
Currently, evacuees are being sheltered at the Alaska Airlines Center and the Egan Center. City officials say they expect a total of about 1,600 displaced people will come to the city in the coming days.
The Anchorage School District is also anticipating an influx of students as families relocate to the city. Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt said his team is working with the Lower Yukon School District to prevent a lengthy pause in any student’s learning.
“We're anticipating at least over 100 students, if not more than 200 students,” Bryantt said.
As the city works to settle those displaced by the storm, donations have poured in. An official with the Alaska Community Foundation said the group has received over 11,000 donations, totaling more than $1.4 million. He said the funding is set to be dispersed to those in need early next week.
