 State Evaluating Need for Federal Assistance Following 7.9 Quake November 06, 2002
"Alaska is fortunate to have survived this massive quake with no fatalities and few serious injuries, but there is considerable damage and federal assistance will likely be needed for us to rebuild," Knowles said. "Most roads have been temporarily patched, but permanent repairs will cost millions. Perhaps hardest hit was Mentasta, where the school and several homes suffered major damage; basic utilities such as water, sewer, electricity, and telephone were knocked off line; and home heating oil tanks were toppled." The state is providing Mentasta residents with drinking water and other needed assistance. The Department of Environmental Conservation is responding to spilled fuel there and in other communities in the region. The recently paved Mentasta road was severely damaged in the quake, as was the road to Northway and the Northway airport. Knowles spoke with tribal leaders in Mentasta and Northway this morning. "They described lots of structural damage, and also the terrifying moments after the quake felt by local residents," Knowles said. "Phone lines and other communications went down right away and they were cut off from the rest of the world. They didn't know what had happened elsewhere in the state." State transportation workers responded immediately after the earthquake and most roads including the Parks and Richardson Highways have since been reopened. The Tok Cut-off, which dropped by as much as six feet in some places, is passable by one lane and only during daylight hours. A private contractor from Fairbanks is mobilizing equipment to begin repairs on that damaged section of road. "Alaska is fortunate, too, that the Trans-Alaska Pipeline performed as it was designed, shifting on its supports, but surviving this quake intact and without any leaks," said Knowles, who talked to Alyeska President David Wight shortly after the quake struck. "The system worked, but the pipeline remains shut down while temporary supports are placed under affected sections." The Governor's Disaster Policy Cabinet, chaired by Major General Phil Oates, commissioner of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, will meet Wednesday to review the latest damage assessment. The sub-cabinet reviews requests for disaster assistance and makes recommendations to the Governor. Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will also be in Alaska tomorrow to inspect the damage.
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