Mud and debris is washed up at Bear Creek near East End Road on Monday afternoon, Dec. 9, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. Bear Creek crosses East End Road near Bear Creek Drive and overflowed the creek banks. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Mud and debris is washed up at Bear Creek near East End Road on Monday afternoon, Dec. 9, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. Bear Creek crosses East End Road near Bear Creek Drive and overflowed the creek banks. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Borough to hold special meeting to consider funding for winter storm damage

Storms caused power outages, late-starts for schools, landslides and flooding in some areas.

The borough is considering how they’ll pay for damages from a series of winter storms that came through the Kenai Peninsula early this week causing power outages, late-starts for the school district, landslides and flooding in some areas.

A special Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting, taking place at 3 p.m. on Friday, will look at both extending the emergency disaster declaration the borough enacted last Friday and appropriating funds in response to damages caused by the recent winter storms.

Emergency disaster declarations are valid for seven days unless they are extended. The assembly will look at a resolution extending that declaration for 30 more days to allow for a more complete response, according to the resolution.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The declaration calls upon the state for assistance, as the borough has expended significant resources in response to the storm damage, the resolution said.

The state is currently processing the borough’s request for assistance, Thursday’s Alaska Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Situation Report said. The state Department of Transportation is also in the process of compiling response and repair costs to several roads on the Kenai Peninsula, according to the situation report.

While the state processes requests for assistance, the assembly will consider an emergency ordinance appropriating $280,000, which would enable the borough to immediately repair the damage to public infrastructure associated with storm-caused flooding and debris.

The disaster declaration was enacted by Mayor Charlie Pierce Dec. 6, the same day the city of Seldovia issued their own declaration after winter storms caused widespread damage and power outages, impacting backup power generators. The declaration also highlighted the imminent threat of weather that came early this week when winter storms flooded roads and caused landslides in some areas of the southern peninsula.

Ditches and culverts in the Anchor Point and Homer area have also been under repair by the Department of Transportation after nearby streams and rivers were flooded early this week by a downpour of rain and snowmelt. The Department of Transportation is continuing repairs on the Seward Highway, along the Turnagain Arm, where rock slides have intermittently closed the road and impacted traffic.

Emergency ordinances require a three-fourths vote of the assembly.

More in News

Lisa Gabriel unfurls a set beach seine during a test fishery for the gear near Clam Gulch, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Seine test fishery continues after board of fish calls for more data

The east side setnet fishery has been entirely closed in recent years to protect Kenai River king salmon

Jason Criss stands for a photo in Soldotna, Alaska, after being named a qualifier for the Special Olympics USA Games on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna athlete to compete in 2026 Special Olympics USA Games

Thousands of athletes from across all 50 states will be competing in 16 sports.

The entrance to the Homer Electric Association office is seen here in Kenai, Alaska on May 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
HEA opens bids for real property

The deadline to submit bids is 5 p.m. on Aug. 11.

Arturo Mondragon-Lopez, Jr. (right) attends a change of plea hearing related to the October 2023 fatal shooting of Brianna Hetrick on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, at the Homer Courthouse in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Mondragon-Lopez sentenced for death of Homer woman

Arturo Mondragon-Lopez, Jr. accepted a plea deal in February for the shooting of Brianna Hetrick.

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna OKs $395,000 capital plan

This year’s list of capital projects is “nominal compared to some past years,” according to officials.

A map of areas proposed for annexation by the City of Soldotna. (Provided by City of Soldotna)
Soldotna adds annexation proposal to ballot

The proposed annexation is split across five small areas around the city.

Nets are extended from North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, during the first day of the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘A really good day’

Kenai River personal use sockeye salmon dipnet fishery opens.

The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna is seen here on June 1. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough assembly to consider ordinance to increase residential property tax exemption

If approved by voters in October, the ordinance would increase the tax exemption by $25,000.

Vice President Kelly Cooper speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough considers seasonal sales tax rate

Borough sales tax would be modified from a flat 3% to a seasonal model of 4% in summer months and 2% in winter months.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in