Alaska National Guard provides emergency assistance to Yakutat

Alaska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen provide emergency assistance in the Southeast Alaska community of Yakutat, Jan. 13, 2022, after the region received tremendous amounts of snow and rain over a seven-day period. Guard members serving on Joint Task Force-Yakutat will provide building safety assessments and emergency snow removal for Tribal, public and government facilities in the community following hazardous winter weather and heavy snowfall resulting in building damage and continued risk of unsafe conditions. Yakutat is in the Tongass National Forest, the largest National Forest in the U.S. and home to the largest population of bald eagles in the world. The Alaska National Guard is trained, equipped and ready to provide disaster response support for the State of Alaska when requested by civil authorities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Dana Rosso)

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Alaska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen provide emergency assistance in the Southeast Alaska community of Yakutat, Jan. 13, 2022, after the region received tremendous amounts of snow and rain over a seven-day period. Guard members serving on Joint Task Force-Yakutat will provide building safety assessments and emergency snow removal for Tribal, public and government facilities in the community following hazardous winter weather and heavy snowfall resulting in building damage and continued risk of unsafe conditions. Yakutat is in the Tongass National Forest, the largest National Forest in the U.S. and home to the largest population of bald eagles in the world. The Alaska National Guard is trained, equipped and ready to provide disaster response support for the State of Alaska when requested by civil authorities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Dana Rosso)

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Alaska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen provide emergency assistance in the Southeast Alaska community of Yakutat, Jan. 12, 2022, after the region received tremendous amounts of snow and rain over a seven-day period. Guard members serving on Joint Task Force-Yakutat will provide building safety assessments and emergency snow removal for Tribal, public and government facilities in the community following hazardous winter weather and heavy snowfall resulting in building damage and continued risk of unsafe conditions. Yakutat is in the Tongass National Forest, the largest National Forest in the U.S. and home to the largest population of bald eagles in the world. The Alaska National Guard is trained, equipped and ready to provide disaster response support for the State of Alaska when requested by civil authorities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Dana Rosso)

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Alaska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen provide emergency assistance in the Southeast Alaska community of Yakutat, Jan. 12, 2022, after the region received tremendous amounts of snow and rain over a seven-day period. Guard members serving on Joint Task Force-Yakutat will provide building safety assessments and emergency snow removal for Tribal, public and government facilities in the community following hazardous winter weather and heavy snowfall resulting in building damage and continued risk of unsafe conditions. Yakutat is in the Tongass National Forest, the largest National Forest in the U.S. and home to the largest population of bald eagles in the world. The Alaska National Guard is trained, equipped and ready to provide disaster response support for the State of Alaska when requested by civil authorities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Dana Rosso)

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Alaska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen aboard an HC-130J Combat King II on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Jan. 12, 2022, depart for the Southeast Alaska community of Yakutat. Guard members serving on Joint Task Force-Yakutat will provide building safety assessments and emergency snow removal for Tribal, public and government facilities in the community following hazardous winter weather and heavy snowfall resulting in building damage and continued risk of unsafe conditions. Yakutat is in the Tongass National Forest, the largest National Forest in the U.S. and home to the largest population of bald eagles in the world. The Alaska National Guard is trained, equipped and ready to provide disaster response support for the State of Alaska when requested by civil authorities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Grace Nechanicky)

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Alaska National Guard Airmen load an HC-130J Combat King II on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Jan. 12, 2022, before a team of Army and Air Guardsmen depart for the Southeast Alaska community of Yakutat. Guard members serving on Joint Task Force-Yakutat will provide building safety assessments and emergency snow removal for Tribal, public and government facilities in the community following hazardous winter weather and heavy snowfall resulting in building damage and continued risk of unsafe conditions. Yakutat is in the Tongass National Forest, the largest National Forest in the U.S. and home to the largest population of bald eagles in the world. The Alaska National Guard is trained, equipped and ready to provide disaster response support for the State of Alaska when requested by civil authorities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Grace Nechanicky)

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Alaska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen aboard an HC-130J Combat King II on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Jan. 12, 2022, depart for the Southeast Alaska community of Yakutat. Guard members serving on Joint Task Force-Yakutat will provide building safety assessments and emergency snow removal for Tribal, public and government facilities in the community following hazardous winter weather and heavy snowfall resulting in building damage and continued risk of unsafe conditions. Yakutat is in the Tongass National Forest, the largest National Forest in the U.S. and home to the largest population of bald eagles in the world. The Alaska National Guard is trained, equipped and ready to provide disaster response support for the State of Alaska when requested by civil authorities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Grace Nechanicky)

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Alaska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen board an HC-130J Combat King II on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Jan. 12, 2022, before departing for the Southeast Alaska community of Yakutat. Guard members serving on Joint Task Force-Yakutat will provide building safety assessments and emergency snow removal for Tribal, public and government facilities in the community following hazardous winter weather and heavy snowfall resulting in building damage and continued risk of unsafe conditions. Yakutat is in the Tongass National Forest, the largest National Forest in the U.S. and home to the largest population of bald eagles in the world. The Alaska National Guard is trained, equipped and ready to provide disaster response support for the State of Alaska when requested by civil authorities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Grace Nechanicky)

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Alaska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen board an HC-130J Combat King II on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Jan. 12, 2022, before departing for the Southeast Alaska community of Yakutat. Guard members serving on Joint Task Force-Yakutat will provide building safety assessments and emergency snow removal for Tribal, public and government facilities in the community following hazardous winter weather and heavy snowfall resulting in building damage and continued risk of unsafe conditions. Yakutat is in the Tongass National Forest, the largest National Forest in the U.S. and home to the largest population of bald eagles in the world. The Alaska National Guard is trained, equipped and ready to provide disaster response support for the State of Alaska when requested by civil authorities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Grace Nechanicky)

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Alaska National Guard Airmen load an HC-130J Combat King II on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Jan. 12, 2022, before a team of Army and Air Guardsmen depart for the Southeast Alaska community of Yakutat. Guard members serving on Joint Task Force-Yakutat will provide building safety assessments and emergency snow removal for Tribal, public and government facilities in the community following hazardous winter weather and heavy snowfall resulting in building damage and continued risk of unsafe conditions. Yakutat is in the Tongass National Forest, the largest National Forest in the U.S. and home to the largest population of bald eagles in the world. The Alaska National Guard is trained, equipped and ready to provide disaster response support for the State of Alaska when requested by civil authorities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Grace Nechanicky)

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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Twenty Alaska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen departed JBER aboard an Alaska Air National Guard HC-130J Combat King II Jan. 12 for the Southeast Alaska community of Yakutat after the region received tremendous amounts of snow and rain over the last seven days, prompting a local disaster declaration.

Guard members serving on Joint Task Force-Yakutat will perform building safety assessments and emergency snow removal for Tribal, public and government facilities in the community. Following the hazardous winter weather and heavy snowfall, there is significant building damage and continued risk of unsafe conditions.

The City and Borough of Yakutat is isolated and off the road system, and all local available resources had been exhausted. The disaster declaration and request for support prompted the State Emergency Operations Center to request Alaska National Guard assistance with snow removal.

The Alaska National Guard is trained, equipped and prepared to provide disaster response support when requested by civil authorities.

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