The Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission lauds the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for $8 million that has been secured and will be implemented in seismic resilience funding for Alaska communities.
The funds were made available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program following the magnitude 7.1 Cook Inlet earthquake in 2018 and ensuing presidential disaster declaration. The earthquake caused power outages and gas leaks; damage to roads, railroads, and buildings; and closures of schools, businesses, and government offices throughout Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley.
Safety Commission Chair Sterling Strait said:
“I am excited to see these funds being used to improve seismic safety for Alaskans. The time and effort put in to secure this funding by staff at the Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management and in each one of the local communities is much appreciated.”
Many schools and critical facilities in Alaska were constructed prior to modern seismic codes and include known issues. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program assists communities with assessments and retrofits to reduce the risk and impact of future disasters.
The bulk of the grants came in the form of $7.7 million for seismic retrofitting to modify existing buildings or infrastructure around the state to make them more resistant to earthquakes. These projects will improve building safety for Alaskans and ensure that utilities continue to function after the next significant earthquake.
Retrofitting projects include:
- Improvements to the Port of Alaska ($4 million).
- An earthquake-resistant water transmission line in Homer ($2 million).
- Ceiling grid upgrades and gas shut off valves for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District ($1.7 million).
- Gas shut off valves for the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium ($31,000).
In addition, the Anchorage School District was awarded $320,000 for district-wide seismic evaluations for Anchorage schools to help identify buildings that were damaged in recent earthquakes or were not properly designed to resist earthquakes.
