*KSRM will continue to update this post through Sunday evening, refresh for new information.For this morning’s coverage, click here.*
10:45 PM Update:
ENSTAR has finished their safety checks after crews re-energized the natural gas system in Lilac Lane.
Homer Electric Association has re-energized the bluff side of Lilac Lane and is working to re-energize the Kenai Spur side of the street.
Any residents that have already been in contact with emergency service dispatch or ENSTAR can call 907-947-2018.
Anyone who has not been contacted about re-entering their home yet is asked to call ENSTAR’s hotline at 907-277-5551.
The Kenai Fire Department asks that any residents that have not been in contact with ENSTAR or the dispatch center do not re-enter your residence without verification from ENSTAR.
9:20 PM Update- Spokeswoman Lindsay Hobson with ENSTAR writes:
“ENSTAR crews responded early this morning following the earthquake to repair gas leaks and respond to fires along Lilac Lane in Kenai.
ENSTAR has completed repairs to the system and has performed all safety checks. ENSTAR is wrapping up its work and is in the process of re-energizing the system.
Thank you to our employees and first responders for your brave and dedicated work today. Our thoughts remain with those impacted by the earthquake and subsequent fires.”
Kenai Fire Battalion Chief Tony Prior says while ENSTAR has the gas leak under control, there is no estimate as to when residents might be allowed back to their homes.
He says each home must be individually examined to be sure that no gas remains in them and then Homer Electric will be allowed to re-energize their system also.
Prior says the first priority is making sure that all homes are safe to re-enter.
KSRM has also had reports from Kenai Peninsula residents in areas outside the Lilac Lane area who are still just finding gas leaks tonight.
We encourage everyone to please inspect your homes carefully and report any smell of gas around gas meters immediately by calling 1-844-SMELL GAS (1-844-763-5542).
Listen here to Sunday’s 5 pm Comprehensive Update:
Afternoon Updates:
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake shook many Alaskans awake at about 1:30 am Sunday morning, with the Kenai Peninsula seeing the most damage to roadways, residences, and utilities.
Research Technician Sara Meyer with the Alaska Earthquake Information Center says after multiple magnitudes were reported, the final magnitude was decidedly 7.1.
The earthquake’s epicenter was approximately 52 miles E of Old Iliamna, 54 miles WSW of Anchor Point, and 76 miles deep, which is an intermediate depth according to Meyer.
Meyer: “So in this region of Alaska we have the Pacific plates subducting underneath the North American plate and this event is present in that Pacific plate as it subducts underneath Alaska. So we consider that an intermediate depth because it’s not a shallow crustal earthquake and it’s not a very deep earthquake that’s underneath that plate or anything. It’s a very common type of earthquake that we get, not of this size but we do have quite a few earthquakes of smaller sizes that happen in this depth throughout southcentral Alaska.”
She says the Cook Inlet is an active place for moderate earthquakes however Sunday morning’s quake is the largest ever recorded in the area. There have been hundreds of aftershocks recorded with one of the bigger ones recorded at a magnitude of 4.7 which Meyer says only some people felt.
You can listen to the full interview here:
Schools 4 pm Update:
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District says a normal day of school will be held throughout the peninsula tomorrow(Monday).
Pegge Erkeneff with the District says all facilities have been checked by the administrators and maintenance crews from the Kenai Peninsula Borough and all structures were found to be safe.
There will be some changes to the school bus routes due to the damage from the earthquake on K-Beach Road.
Erkeneff says Route 42 (Skyview Middle School, Soldotna Prep, River City Academy, and Soldotna High School); and Route 44 (Tustumena Elementary).
Transportation information for Bus Routes 42 and 44 in the Kasilof area:
We do have an impact to busing in the Kasilof area that affects routes 42 (River City Academy, Skyview Middle School, Soldotna High School, and Soldotna Prep); and Route 44 (Tustumena Elementary):
- Route 42 serving Skyview Middle School, Soldotna Prep, RCA and Soldotna High School will arrive at the church at Mile 1 (Sand Street) at approximately 6:40 a.m., and will remain there until about 6:50 a.m. before heading into town. Parents can bring their children to the bus there, and pick them up there in the afternoon at approximately 2:45 – 2:50.
- Route 44 for Tustumena Elementary: All the children on K-Beach who ride this bus are on the north side of the road closure, so the morning bus will come from K-Beach Elementary to Satori Way and then turn around. ALL pickups in the morning will be done as the bus is northbound. The driver will then drive all the way around the top of K-Beach Rd and then back down Sterling Highway to Tustumena Elementary. The estimate is that any students who do ride the bus will arrive to Tustumena Elementary at 9:30 or thereabouts.
- The Pollard Loop portion of Route 44 in the morning will be covered by Route 41, and it may run about 3 – 5 minutes later than usual.
- In the afternoon, everyone who normally rides route 44 in the afternoon will do so. However, the K-Beach students will ride all the way up Sterling Highway to loop back around the top of K-Beach, and may not arrive to their stop until 4:30 or so.
Transportation information for Bus Route 43
- Route 43 serving Kenai Central High School, Kenai Middle School, and Mountain View Elementary will add an extra stop at the Armory on the way to school.
Soldotna High School does remain without power at this time, (Sunday afternoon) but HEA expects power back on sometime on Sunday. Soldotna High School does plan to open on a normal schedule on Monday.
You can listen to that full interview here:
Roads:
Shannon McCarthy with the Department of Transportation says no road damage other than on the Kenai Peninsula has been reported.
As we’ve been reporting, about a 150 foot stretch of K-Beach Road near it’s intersection with the Sterling Highway in Kasilof dropped, leaving a heft crack and reducing the road to one-lane traffic.
We asked if any other road damage has been reported in other parts of Alaska.
McCarthy: “No there weren’t, it was K-Beach and I stayed up for a while to monitor reports but so far it was primarily property damage in the Anchorage area and then much more serious damage in the Kenai area.”
Crews will begin maintenance to K-Beach tomorrow morning.
Erkeneff with the KPBSD says bus routes near Kasilof may be changed Monday morning because of the damage to K-Beach Road. The District will issue more detailed notices this afternoon.
We’ve also had questions from listeners about the structural integrity of bridges between Kenai and Anchorage…
McCarthy: “Our crews were actually able to get out last night after the earthquake and they actually did an inspection of all the bridges around 3 am. They were able to do that and on first inspection everything looks good and then they’re going out today and reinspecting all those bridges when there’s good light and they can get underneath the bridges and examine all of the abutments and spans and things like that.”
LILAC LANE EVACUATION UPDATE FROM Kenai Police Department AS OF 3 PM:
Although the Cook Inlet View Drive and Wells Way were opened earlier, authorities have again closed that area because of elevated gas levels.
ENSTAR is still on scene to resolve gas concerns on Lilac Lane and in the area.
Kenai Police Chief Gus Sandahl says the Kenai Armory is still available for any evacuees displaced and residents of said area are welcome to call 283-7879 for continued updates. There were no human fatalities in the fire.
The temporary shelter at the Kenai Armory will be open overnight. Red Cross volunteers arrived around 3 PM Sunday afternoon and are coordinating with the volunteers on site to continue shelter services.
Sergeant First Class Albert Burns with the Alaska Army National Guard has been at the shelter helping evacuees since 3:30 am Sunday and continued helping Red Cross organize.
Sgt. Burns: “Right now they are still working on seeing what is here and what they do need to supply, they are looking at helping out anybody that has medical issues and any other food allergies or that kind of stuff, setting that kind of stuff up so they can take that and run with it.”
KSRM will post a list of things the shelter might need once Red Cross gets everything organized.
Power:
As of 3 pm, Homer Electric Association is continuing to stand-by for permission to re-energize lines to the Lilac Drive area.
Governor Bill Walker took time out of his day to speak with KSRM News about the earthquake. Find that full interview here.
He issued a press statement earlier Sunday afternoon:
“I was notified at 2:35 this morning by the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director of the 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Southcentral Alaska. I am relieved that there was not more damage given the severity of the quake. We have set up shelter for those in need and stand ready to assist in whatever way we can. As a survivor of the 1964 GoodFriday earthquake, I urge all Alaskans to have a response plan prepared for when a major natural disaster occurs. I thank all the emergency personnel and volunteers for their rapid response to last night’s events.
For any Alaskans with immediate life and safety concerns, please call 911 for local law enforcement. For any other concerns or questions relating to the earthquake, please call your local emergency manager or the State Emergency Operations Center at 907-428-7100, or visit ready.alaska.gov.”
