NPS Flood Response Transitions To State Team

The NPS flood response is transitioning to its next phase, which is that of short- and long-term recovery. The incident management team demobilized on Friday, and park employees in Eagle are returning to normal duties (as normal as possible) in their flood-ravaged community. The NPS will continue to assist the state’s flood recovery efforts in Eagle, but the highest priority is to provide support to the Eagle-based staff and assist them to the best degree possible as they deal with the loss of homes, belongings, and communities. James Savage will be remaining in Eagle to act as the NPS liaison with the state’s incident management team. Other NPS staff will go to Eagle to assist with recovery efforts as their skills and expertise are needed. Initial overflights of the historic structures and public use cabins along the river indicate that they are still present, but may have sustained some degree of water and/or structural damage. When the ice melts and the river level drops, a more thorough assessment will be made. In order to facilitate monetary donations, Alaska Geographic has graciously agreed to set up a donation fund for Eagle NPS staff and residents and has made the first donation. Checks can be made out to “Alaska Geographic – Eagle Fund” and sent to either Julia Youngblood, Fairbanks Administrative Center, 4175 Geist Road, Fairbanks, AK 99709, or Suzy Wooliver, Alaska Region Office, 240 West 5th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501. The Alaska Geographic fund provides more flexibility in how donations can be utilized. The use of funds from an NPS donation account would be more restricted.