Alaska Governor Palin Visits Flood Devastated Communities

Tours Flood-Stricken Community of Eagle

May 12, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin yesterday toured the flood-stricken community of Eagle, located about 200 miles east of Fairbanks. Dozens of homes have been destroyed in Eagle after ice jams caused the Yukon River to flood. The governor and John Madden, director of the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, overflew Fort Yukon and the village of Circle on approach to Eagle.

Article continues below...

Governor Palin met with numerous officials during the trip, including Assistant Mayor Bo Fay, Emergency Coordinator Krystie Depue and First Chief Joyce Roberts. All-terrain vehicles were used to travel from Eagle to Eagle Village downriver.

“Alaska's spirit of resiliency and community shines brightly in Eagle,” the governor said.

This is Governor Palin’s second trip to the region. On Thursday, the governor traveled to Fort Yukon, where she met with local leaders and surveyed flood damage at Eagle and Circle from the air. Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell on Saturday traveled to the flood-stricken community of Akiak and to the flood-threatened communities of Akiachak, Kwethluk and Bethel.

Governor Palin last week issued a disaster declaration for areas affected by the flooding, including the drainages of the Yukon, Kuskokwim, Kobuk and Susitna rivers, which will provide easier access to state disaster relief funds. Multi-agency disaster response teams are in Eagle assessing the damage and working with the community to meet the immediate needs of fresh water, food, and heating fuel. Other teams are in Western Alaska preparing for the potential flooding on the Kuskokwim River and the lower Yukon River.

Source: Alaska Governor