SalmonState On How To Help Storm-Impacted Western Alaska

The following is courtesy of SalmonState:

Our hearts are with our friends in western Alaska who have been impacted by last weekend’s devastating storms. In true Alaskan fashion, people have rallied to help in a huge way, sending donations of clothing, dry goods, and other necessary items, and donating money to help toward recovery. One person is confirmed dead from the storms, two are missing, and more than 1,000 are displaced. Dozens of houses floated away from their foundations, sometimes with people in them, ending up miles from where they started. At least 15 villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region were impacted.

The New York Times reported that earlier this year the federal administration cancelled a $20 million flood protection grant for Kipnuk, one of the most affected communities, as “it was ‘no longer consistent’ with the agency’s priorities.” 

The story continues: “Lee Zeldin, the E.P.A. administrator, boasted on social media that he was eliminating ‘wasteful DEI and Environmental Justice grants,’ referring to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and programs to help communities facing a disproportionate level of environmental threats.” 

The communities impacted by this disaster are predominantly Alaska Native. 

Lauren Boldrick, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 1110, wrote a letter to the ADN this week saying she watched the disaster unfold with “utter despair and abject fury.” 
“As president of AFGE Local 1110, which represents many EPA employees in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, I feel I must state that these projects were not ideological, but were simply what our Alaska communities proved they needed to protect themselves against climate disasters — and were awarded after strict scrutiny….. EPA non-political staff has begged and pleaded with our political leadership and representatives to no avail. None of you listened or cared, and now the consequences of your callousness are laid bare.”

On Thursday, the EPA defended the grant cancellations. 

The ADN quotes EPA press secretary Brigit Hirsch as saying “To be brutally candid, due to the proactive cancellation of this grant, $20 million of hardworking U.S. tax dollars are currently sitting in the U.S. treasury instead of swept into the Kuskokwim River.”
Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, two of the most affected communities, are “no longer safe to live in,” according to the ADN. The state airlifted people out on Wednesday.

The most important thing right now is finding ways to help affected communities recover. The Anchorage Daily News has a comprehensive article about how to help residents and communities after catastrophic Western Alaska storms. Bethel Community Services Foundation created an Amazon wishlist here.