Latest update on the Alaska hurricane

[Blue_In_AK]

From the Anchorage Daily News: http://www.adn.com/2011/11/09/2163238/alaskans-weather-epic-bering-sea.html

A giant Bering Sea storm with hurricane-force winds roared up the western Alaska coastline Wednesday, sending waves over storm barriers, knocking out electricity, flooding parts of some villages and leading to evacuations. But as of Wednesday evening, officials had heard no reports of injuries nor massive damage.

There were reports of buildings damaged, roads under water and major beach erosion, and authorities emphasized Wednesday night that the worst hadn't necessarily passed, with water still rising in some communities and warnings still in effect through this morning.

<snip>

"Nome is A-OK. They've closed their shelter down," said Bryan Fisher, incident commander with the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, at about 8:30 p.m. "They're closing their emergency operations center down for the evening." But storm waters were still rising elsewhere along the northern coast Wednesday night as families in village after village left their homes and took refuge in local schools, prepared for the worst.

Flooding in the Kotzebue Sound village of Deering forced evacuation of about 100 people to the school, Fisher said. That's nearly everyone in the village, according to state population estimates.

<snip>

Photos here: http://www.adn.com/2011/11/09/v-gallery/2163238/alaskans-weather-epic-bering-sea.html#id=2162919&view=large_view

[OffWithTheirHeads]

1. Thanks for keeping us informed. I've heard NOTHING on msm.

[Blue_In_AK]

13. We're kind of used to being ignored

unless it has something to do with She Who Shall Not Be Named. I suspect if a Category 3 hurricane had struck anywhere else in the US, you would have known about it. The MSM probably doesn't care too much about a few thousand "Eskimos" and assorted weirdo white people who choose to live in remote Alaska.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

14. Well, having been born in Kodiak, I'm interested.

[Blue_In_AK]

15. Oh, I love Kodiak.

We went over there a couple springs ago for a little vacation. It was wonderful. We actually lucked out and got good weather. :)



If you haven't seen them, I have photos of Kodiak here: http://northernvisions.smugmug.com/Vacation/Kodiak-April-2010/11895088_6PtTL2#841859864_JBFuF

[EFerrari]

2. I did see some stories but there's so much going on

nothing is sticking to me any more so thanks for posting.

[KT2000]

3. Thanks for posting this

About the only source that has good information is the Weather Channel.

[Suich]

4. Thanks a lot for the update, Blue!

I found some info on the KTUU website and followed a couple of tweeters but there was nothing on any news here.

Glad to hear everyone seems to be ok.

:)

[malaise]

5. Thanks

:hi:

[xchrom]

6. Recommend

[opihimoimoi]

7. 17 xxxx t/y

[Scuba]

8. Thanks for the update. Hope everyone's safe. n/t

[Bandit]

9. And the crab fleet fishes on.

In fact it was on the news yesterday that a crew member on the F/V Wizard had to be evacuated off the vessel for health reasons. Should be a good episode when it finally airs.

[Shagbark Hickory]

10. Did they say who it was?

Or will we just have to tune in next summer to find out?

[Bandit]

11. No they didn't give any names, just that he was 27 years old.

:shrug:

[Shagbark Hickory]

12. Well at least we know who it *wasn't*

[uppityperson]

16. brrrrrrrrrrrr, and thanks for the update

[Downwinder]

17. Aren't there some villages on the west coast

that are going under water without the storm?

Have any preparation been made for them?

[Blue_In_AK]

20. Yes, several.

Kivalina, Shishmaref and several others are in serious trouble. Really those villages should be moved further inland, but those would be very costly projects. When the Natives out there first put down roots there was a good amount of land between their houses and the sea, but every year the erosion is relentless. There are some (mostly white, of course) people who say all those people out there should just get with the program and move to Fairbanks or Anchorage, but I personally find that to be extremely insensitive to the culture. It's the fault of the Americans that they had to give up their nomadic lifestyle and settle in villages in the first place.

[Downwinder]

21. My solution for unemployment would be

to move everything on the coastal waters to 10 meters above sea level.

[Blue_In_AK]

22. That would keep a lot of people busy

for a really long time. :)

[Suich]

18. Have you heard anything about Little Diomede?

I think that's where the plane landed on the frozen river on the last episode of "Flying Wild Alaska." I saw some pics of some kind of school project but I couldn't tell what was going on. If I remember correctly, it sits on a hill above the water.

[Blue_In_AK]

19. Little Diomede got slammed.

I saw video os Conexes and backhoes bobbing around in the water.

There are some pretty good photos here http://www.adn.com/2011/11/09/v-gallery/2163238/alaskans-weather-epic-bering-sea.html#id=2164636&view=large_view

KTUU has posted some videos here: http://www.ktuu.com/weather/videos/ I'm not sure if that's where I saw the one of Little Diomede, but it looked bad.



ed. Yeah, the Diomede one is in there, it's about the eighth one in.