The Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is delivering nearly 1,300 gallons of drinking water to Tuluksak on Monday in response to a community request. The community’s temporary water filtration system had to be taken offline as moving ice from river breakup could damage the system’s inlet. A temporary water filtration system was put in place for community water since a fire destroyed the community’s washeteria and main watering point in January.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy declared a disaster declaration for the community of Tuluksak in February and authorized up to $1 million in relief to provide aid. Until the temporary water filtration system was installed, residents were mostly drinking donated bottled water.
Ten pallets in total were scheduled to be delivered this week. The ten pallets, weighing nearly 11,000 pounds, will be stored at the school, which is also Tuluksak’s designated shelter location if any flooding will occur due to the spring river cleanup. The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will continue providing drinking water to support the community till an interim water treatment plant can be delivered and installed in Tuluksak.
According to report, the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is in close contact with the community as well as other similar communities across the Kuskokwim and Yukon rivers as the division conducts its annual River Watch program. That program includes areal surveillance of the rivers to monitor for potential ice jam flooding during the river breakup.
A February 10th Associated Press report indicates that $6 million is the estimated price tag in order for a new water plant and laundromat to be rebuilt.
More information can be found here.
