A contingent of soldiers & airmen from The Alaska State Military were activated to assist in flood recovery operations following a series of dams flooding riverbanks. The soldiers and airmen come from The Alaska Army National Guard, Air National Guard and the Alaska State Defense Force. All have been deployed to Bethel and Circle to aid in flood recovery efforts in Western and Interior Alaska. Under the direction of the Alaska State Emergency Operations Center, the task force will assist in debris removal and other flood-recovery operations.
The activation of the Alaska Organized Militia came after formal requests for recovery support from the SEOC by the communities of Circle and Crooked Creek. The flooding, caused by late snowfall and temperature fluctuations, led to ice dams overflowing riverbanks. Thus far, there have been no reports of injuries or fatalities resulting from the flooding, with federal, state, and humanitarian assistance organizations actively engaged in immediate response and restoration efforts.
Alaska National Guardsmen, State Defense Force deploy to Bethel, Circle to assist with flood recovery
Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey | Senior Airman Sean Lake, 168th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, loads gear at Eielson… read more
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, UNITED STATES
05.23.2023
Courtesy Story
Alaska National Guard Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Nine members of the Alaska Organized Militia deployed to Bethel and Circle May 22 and 23 respectively to support flood recovery efforts in Western and Interior Alaska.
The task force, which includes members of the Alaska Air and Army National Guard and the Alaska State Defense Force, will be prepared to conduct debris removal and other flood-recovery operations at the direction of the Alaska State Emergency Operations Center who have incident commanders at both locations.
Four Alaska Air National Guardsmen and an ASDF member staged at Eielson Air Force Base before deploying to Circle in a government vehicle. Two service members – one from the Air Guard and one from the Army Guard – staged from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson before flying to Bethel. They teamed up with two ASDF members from Bethel and Kwethluk respectively. The Bethel team will further deploy to Crooked Creek via fixed-wing aircraft.
The Bethel Armory is on standby, ready to provide emergency shelter for any flood-related evacuees from the region.
The commissioner of the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and adjutant general for the Alaska National Guard, Maj. Gen. Torrence Saxe, put the Alaska Organized Militia on notice to be ready to support affected communities after Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s emergency declaration May 15.
Saxe officially activated AKOM members May 20 after the communities of Circle and Crooked Creek formally requested recovery support from the SEOC.
“Our fellow Alaskans in the West and the Interior have been tremendously affected by this season’s flooding, and our teams are prepared to assist any way they can through the challenging recovery process,” said Saxe. “Alaskans helping Alaskans. This is our most important mission.”
River flooding in both regions stemmed from unseasonably late snowfall and cold temperatures followed by a rapid rise in temperatures. Melting water froze at night and melted during the day, causing ice dams to overflow riverbanks.
During state emergencies or natural disasters, the SEOC receives requests for assistance from affected communities and assigns the most appropriate state resources to provide assistance.
Federal and state agencies in partnership with humanitarian assistance organizations have been actively engaged in immediate response and continue to work to restore electricity, communications and open roadways and airfields. As of May 23, there have been no reports of injuries or deaths related to the flooding.
Members of the Alaska Air National Guard assemble a structure for volunteers and responders in Circle, Alaska, May 23, 2023. Ice dams caused riverbanks to overflow, severely damaging many homes in the area.
Spc. LeAnn White, 2nd Scout Battalion, 49th Brigade, Alaska State Defense Force, assists with flood recovery operations in Crooked Creek, Alaska, May 25, 2023. Ice dams caused riverbanks to overflow, severely damaging many homes in the area. One Alaska Air and one Alaska Army National Guardsmen also assisted with the recovery efforts as part of Joint Task Force Bethel. The task force arrived in Bethel May 22 at the request of the State Emergency Operations Center. (AKNG courtesy photo)
Spc. LeAnn White, 2nd Scout Battalion, 49th Brigade, Alaska State Defense Force, assists with flood recovery operations in Crooked Creek, Alaska, May 25, 2023. Ice dams caused riverbanks to overflow, severely damaging many homes in the area. One Alaska Air and one Alaska Army National Guardsmen also assisted with the recovery efforts as part of Joint Task Force Bethel. The task force arrived in Bethel May 22 at the request of the State Emergency Operations Center. (AKNG courtesy photo)
Members of the Alaska Air and Army National Guard and Alaska State Defense Force assist community members and first responders with setting up temporary shelters during flood recovery operations in Crooked Creek, Alaska, May 27, 2023.
