MSB Flood Emergency Operations Phase Summary

Matanuska Susitna Borough Flood Event
Emergency Operations Phase Summary
August 26, 2006

Introduction

The MSB activated its emergency operations center Friday, August 18, 2006 at 12:30 p.m. at Central MAT-SU Fire Station 6-1 and activated an incident command post in Talkeetna at the National Parks Service about 1:00 p.m. Between these two centers, approximately 100 personnel worked during a 24-hour cycle to oversee the emergency response to the flood disaster.

At approximately 3:00 p.m., Friday, August 18, 2006, Mayor Tim Anderson declared a state of emergency within the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and signed a Borough Disaster Declaration. At 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 19, 2006, the Borough requested disaster assistance from the State of Alaska. Gov. Frank Murkowski declared the region a state disaster that day.

The emergency operations center ran continuously until Wednesday, August 23, 2006, when it was shut down at 8:00pm. This marked the end of the emergency response phase and transitioned into the recovery phase of operations. On Thursday, August 24, 2006 at 8:00 am, the Incident Recovery Center opened at the Cottonwood Public Safety Building on North Seward Meridian Parkway in Wasilla to begin the process of recovery.

Rivers

Data Source: National Weather Service - Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

Life Safety

• Lives lost - 0
• Major injuries - 0

Evacuations

• Number of people evacuated - Approximately 150
• Shelters established - 3

Property Damage

• Four structures lost to the flood water: one on the upper portion of the Little Su, two on Willow Creek, and one on Moose Creek in Petersville
• Over 150 homes flooded and/or damaged:
  • Talkeetna area
  • Moose Creek area
  • Montana Creek area
  • Willow Creek area
  • Upper Little Su area
  • Lower Little Su area
  • Other areas

Road Damage - Impassable, flooded and/or damaged

• 46 Borough roads, reported
• 6 major State roads

Bridge Damage

• 8 bridges, reported

Emergency Response

• Matanuska-Susitna Borough:
  • MSB Dive Rescue Team
  • Trapper Creek EMS
  • Talkeetna Fire Department
  • Talkeetna EMS & Rescue
  • Willow Fire Department
  • Willow EMS & Rescue
  • Houston EMS
  • Central MAT-SU Fire Department
  • Central MAT-SU EMS & Rescue
  • Meadow Lakes Fire Department
  • Butte Fire Department
  • Butte EMS & Rescue
  • Public Works Department
  • Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
• Anchorage Dive Rescue Team
• JBEAR Dive Rescue Team
• Houston Fire Department
• Houston Police Department
• Palmer Police Department
• City of Wasilla
• National Parks Service
• Alaska State Troopers
• Alaska Red Cross
• Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
• Alaska Railroad
• Alaska Department of Transportation
• Alaska Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
• MAT-SU Valley Ham Radio

Press Releases
August 18 - 25, 2006 - 39 press releases

MAT-SU Borough Flood Related Expenses as of 3:00pm 8/25/06:
Wages for emergency response and emergency operations center staffing - $109,200
Purchase orders for response related activities - $432,000 Total - $541, 200
It's too early to quantify the amount of money required to repair the damages due to the flood.

Help Centers
60 people have applied for Borough assistance
47 people have applied for State assistance ($5,000)

• Willow Community Center - 23625 W Willow Community Center Circle
• Sunshine Fire Station - 42488 South Parks Highway
• Alaska Department of Public Health is offering tetanus shots

Animal Care
Animals killed - at least two
Animals injured - unknown
Dog food distributed - unknown

Debris Removal

• Public Use Dumpsters
  • Houston Fire Station
  • Houston - King Arthur & No Name Hill Road
  • Talkeetna - Beaver Road Gravel Pit
• $50.00 dump vouchers are available for flood debris at Borough landfills

Additional Information

• Matanuska-Susitna Borough website: http://www.matsugov.us
• Alaska Department of Transportation: http://511.alaska.gov
• Alaska Red Cross: http://alaska.redcross.org/index.php?pr=Flood_and_Flash_Flood

Compiled by Dennis Brodigan, Emergency Services Director