Due to last week’s culmination of prolonged seasonal rains, high water flows and the unprecedented release of three glacial lake dams (Moose, Snow, and Skilak) the Kenai experienced active flooding in the Kenai Keys, Funny River, Dow Island and Big Eddy areas, as well as high and rising stream and ground waters in the K-Beach and Eastern Kenai Peninsula.
After consultation with the incident management team, Kenai Peninsula Borough (KPB) Mayor Peter Micciche declared a local emergency on September 14, 2023. A local declaration allows the use of $100,000 in borough emergency funds to implement protective measures. In anticipation of exceeding response capability, the declaration was sent to the Governor for consideration of state support should the $1.3 million threshold in damage to KPB infrastructure be reached during the response.
However, predicted increased precipitation did not occur and the Kenai River receded below flood stage faster than what was anticipated.
Although many individuals experienced flooding and high groundwater, the threshold was not close to preconceived numbers, therefore, a state response is not to be expected.
Borough staff is working alongside contractors to determine the cost and timeline to make repairs, which is anticipated to continue into October. Estimated road repairs are approximately $60,000 which is much less than originally forecasted.
The Emergency Disaster Declaration will remain at the Borough level since the cost of our response has not exceeded the $100,000 appropriated by the KPB Assembly for disaster response.
Disasters and emergencies are always managed at the lowest level possible based on needs and available resources, which at this time is the Borough level. The Borough will continue to monitor the situation and keep the emergency declaration in place for approximately seven more days but it is highly unlikely it will reach the threshold to trigger state assistance.
Homeowners with more than $10,000 of damage can apply for an abatement of their homeowner property taxes through the Borough Assessor’s office. There is an application process and requirements, as well as a timeline for repairs to be completed by January 1,2024. Residents can contact the Borough Assessor’s office at 714-2230 to ask about the program or if they qualify or they can go to the KPB website www.kpb.us for more information.
High groundwater levels remain and are being monitored.
Heavier rainfall is not forecasted in Seward or the Central Peninsula for the next 7-10 days. The Borough Office of Emergency Management remains in close contact with the National Weather Service and the State should conditions change.
