Emergency aid to help Alaska town buried by 18 feet of snow
Many residents in one Alaskan town are dealing with collapsed roofs and homeowners insurance claims after seeing 18 feet of snow pile up over the last few months, as state officials bring in outside aid.
The isolated coastal town of Cordova declared an official state of emergency last week, asking the state to help run shelters and bring in additional equipment to help with snow removal after the most recent storm dumped nearly four feet of snow. Since November 1, the city has seen 176 inches of snow and more than 44 inches of rain.
"Cordova is continuing their outstanding job responding to several weeks of intense snowfall," said John Madden, director of the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
Officials were also working to bring in avalanche kits, which contain a beacon to assist emergency personnel in finding residents. At least one avalanche has already occurred, but no homes were damaged.
While some parts of the country have seen relatively mild winters so far this year, Alaska has not been one of them. A report from the Anchorage Daily News said the city had already received nearly 70 inches of snow. The annual average is just 74 inches.
Related Home Insurance Articles:
- Homes destroyed by Nevada wildfire May 23, 2012
- Researchers hope to better understand tornado damage May 22, 2012
- Total costs from Minneapolis tornado reach $80 million May 21, 2012
- Analysis shows more than $2B of insurance claims from Joplin tornado May 18, 2012
- Recovery continues for Michigan tornado victims May 17, 2012
