Disaster Resolution Adopted February 3

The Haines Borough Assembly convened in a special meeting 1:15 Friday February 3 to consider "A Resolution of the Haines Borough Assembly declaring a disaster and requesting state assistance" for the Ocean View/Lutak Road Slope Movement. All members were present (Lapp and Hoffman attended via teleconference). The Resolution was adopted unanimously.

The Resolution declares that a disaster emergency exists and gives the particulars; it also declares that the Borough "has expended all appropriate resources in response to the disaster emergency." The Borough's request for assistance is outlined in the final paragraph:

FURTHERMORE, it is requested that the governor of the State of Alaska declare a disaster emergency to exist as described in AS 26.23 and provide disaster assistance to the Haines Borough in its response and recovery from this event. The Borough specifically requests individual assistance and temporary housing for impacted residents, public disaster assistance for emergency protective measures, temporary and permanent repairs to Borough sewer, water, and transportation infrastructure, with technical assistance and funding to fully evaluate the threat and/or damage to the Oceanview and Lutak Roads, and reestablish normal transportation of critical resources should the roads be closed.

All the Borough's contacts with the state were notified of the pending resolution, and upon passage the resolution was sent electronically to the necessary contacts before the close of the business day. Contacts include Claude Denver, Military & Veterans Affairs, Division of Emergency Services; Governor Sean Parnell; Representative Bill Thomas; Senator Albert Kookesh; Jeff Rypka and Phil Naegele, USDA Rural Development; Sally Smith with Senator Begich's office; Senator Murkowski; and the Borough's lobbyists in Washington, DC. I understand that the Division of Emergency Services will evaluate the request and make a recommendation to the Governor.

State and Borough officials, and contracted engineers have been monitoring the movement of the Oceanview Road slope and Lutak Road since it was brought to their attention January 16. State geologists and engineers arrived January 18 along with the Borough's contracted geotech engineer. In accordance with the Borough's Emergency Operations Guide, a command center was set up in the Public Facilities Director's office January 19 and staffed by Roc Ahrens. Mr. Ahrens has been coordinating information and working with staff to develop contingency plans.

The Precipitating Event: Sewer Line Sheared.
One of the many plans in place was a plan to provide services should the sewer line running through the slide area and serving 125 homes on the hillside of Highlands Estate and Skyline Drive be compromised by the slide activity. The plan called for crews to access a working manhole and then lay pipe on the surfacing leapfrogging over the damaged line to the next functioning manhole. Thursday evening, Feb. 2, residents were notified of the break; then local crews started work at 7 AM Feb. 3 and sewer services were restored by 3:15 PM. A necessary piece of equipment was provided by Southeast Roadbuilders.

I think Haines is rich in heroes. In fact, it is so common for Haines residents to perform extraordinarily in the face of illness, accidents, and disasters, that we might be in danger of taking it for granted! I would like to mention the dedication of the water and sewer team (Scott Bradford, Dennis Durr, Jim Blilie) to this event, along with the leadership provided by Brian Lemcke and Roc Ahrens. These men are undaunted by rain, wind, snow, or what I'll just call "gunk." I'd also like to recognize Borough administrative staff: Manager Mark Earnest, CFO Jila Stuart, and Acting Clerk Jamie Heinz. Each is intimately involved in managing this event and has demonstrated skill and dedication to the Borough and its residents. I am very proud of our team.

By anyone's measure, a disaster occurred when Joshua and Victoria Moore had to move from their home due to the impact of the ground movement on their residence. About that, there is no question. However, in order to be eligible for state assistance, an even greater level of impact has to be experienced. The threat to Borough utilities and the impact on 125 residents elevated the event, at least in our estimation. We are hopeful that state officials will agree.

It appears that there is an increasing level of concern by the state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. The Borough was notified by email Friday, Feb. 3, 4:19 PM, that the state is mobilizing a DOT drilling crew to Haines to drill additional borings to supplement those completed by the Borough's engineer. Mitch McDonald, Regional Engineering Geologist, writes:

Our current plan is to arrive in Haines on Wednesday (February 8) and probably start drilling on Thursday. Drilling should be completed by Sunday the 12th....My preliminary plan is to drill 3-4 borings along Lutak and 3 borings on Front Street...We will install 3-5 wells in selected borings to allow additional water level monitoring.
There is no doubt that water is involved.

Water was running freely in a stream just below Oceanview Road (see photo above) and from a drainage pipe just below the Moore's in photos I took today.