Alaska governor issues disaster declaration for areas affected by flooding from breakup of river ice

ANKERAGE, Alaska — Gov. Mike Dunleavy has issued a state disaster declaration for southwestern Alaska communities that have experienced flooding due to river ice breakup and spring snowmelt.

Some homes in low-lying areas of the Bethel regional hub were surrounded by water, while much of Kwethluk was flooded and high tides cut off access to the airport in Napaskiak, the Anchorage Daily News reported Friday.

Kwethluk, with a population of about 790, is located 12 miles east of Bethel and is the second largest community along the Lower Kuskokwim River. Napaskiak is located seven miles southeast of Bethel and on the east bank of the Kuskokwim River.

Dave Streubel, a hydrologist with the Alaska-Pacific River Forecast Center, said water levels in Bethel reached their highest point in nearly two decades this week.

The faster-than-usual rise in water in Kwethluk took the community by surprise, said acting city manager Samuel Nicori. An update from the state’s emergency management Friday said some homes and the runway access road were inundated with water and the sewage system had been shut off due to flooding. Bottled water was flown in.

“We have limited mobility throughout the community,” Nicori said. “So basically people are going around the community with waders and canoes.”

Jeremy Zidek, a spokesman for the state’s emergency management agency, said significant amounts of snow and ice contributed to the higher water and flooding. Streubel said conditions were made worse by an ice dam that formed near the mouth of the Kuskokwim River.

A flood warning was in effect for the Kuskokwim River until Monday morning.