JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska –
The Alaska National Guard has been requested by the State Emergency Operation Center to provide additional support for the ongoing response to the storms impacting Alaska’s West Coast, including opening the Kotzebue, Bethel and Nome Armories and preparing personnel for deployment to affected communities.
The Alaska Organized Militia, which includes the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force, and Alaska Naval Militia, has been requested to activate up to 60 members to assist with storm response operations across affected western Alaska communities. Three additional members will augment the SEOC with mass care operations and remote community communications.
Personnel will be deployed as needed based on community impact assessments and mission requirements coordinated through the State Emergency Operation Center.
Two Alaska Organized Militia members residing in Kotzebue were previously activated under state active-duty orders on October 10 to support local emergency response efforts in coordination with the SEOC and community officials.
The armories in Kotzebue, Bethel and Nome will provide evacuation and responder sheltering as the powerful storm system moving across Western Alaska continues to impact coastal regions. The National Weather Service has forecasted coastal flooding, heavy surf, and wind gusts approaching 100 miles per hour along portions of Alaska’s West Coast.
Deployed AKOM members have been requested to conduct reconnaissance and reporting of storm damage, debris and water removal, assist with shelter and mass care operations, support local emergency operations centers, and distribute disaster relief supplies.
Air and ground transportation assets have also been requested to move personnel and materials as conditions allow.
The Alaska National Guard Joint Operations Center will continue coordinating directly with the Incident Commander and the State Emergency Operation Center, monitoring storm conditions and adjusting response operations as needed to support the affected communities.