Weather

• Kotzebue: Expect a slight chance of snow and areas of freezing fog, with temperatures reaching a high of 21°F and a low of 11°F tonight as skies clear. No significant weather is forecasted through the week.
• Nome: Snow will begin tonight, continuing until Friday night. Currently, there are no indications of large storms on the horizon.

Safety

• Hazards: No new hazards reported.
• Sea Ice Forecast: See attached graphic [Sea Ice Forecast 20241029.png].

Construction

• Kotzebue:
  • Drake Construction is expected to complete contracted roadway repairs today or early tomorrow.
  • Emergency repairs (ER) on access and base roads are nearing completion. 
  • Both airport runways are operational, with some remaining cleanup and flooring replacement in the SREB scheduled this week. 
    
• Nome-Council:
  • Tumet began isolated repairs on Saturday. Awaiting an updated completion timeline today.

Communication Resources:

• Website: Alaska DOT Storm Updates
• Flickr: Storm Photos
• Social Media Video: West Coast Storm Overview

West Coast Storm October 28, 2024 AM Update

Damage Summary - October 2024:

Assessments Complete in Nome, Kotzebue, Deering and Shishmaref

Nome-Council Highway:

• Site 1 (MP 16.5): 1,200 feet damaged; debris cleared and temporary borrow fill applied. Armor stone settled lower post-storm.
• Site 2 (MP 21): Flooded section with 4-6 inches of water; minor surface erosion expected.
• Site 3 (MP 22.2): Severe road surface erosion, now reduced to a single lane with temporary repairs.
• Site 4 (MP 24): 3,000 feet with displaced armor stone; erosion and sand over the road.
• Site 5 (MP 33.5): Embankment erosion near Solomon; exposed pavement.

Kotzebue & Deering: Kotzebue Airport: Ice-covered runway and damaged lighting system; temporary lighting restored.

Airport Access Road: Debris and erosion; cleared for limited one-lane use.

City of Kotzebue: Erosion and house damage along Front Street; two homes lost. Minor infrastructure damages to local bridges and sewage lagoons.

Deering Village: Severe erosion along the spit, but no infrastructure loss due to community efforts in reinforcing the beach with materials.

Statewide Equipment Fleet Team supporting the Kotzebue recovery efforts:

• Assembled and transported hoses and pumps to assist in response efforts. 
• Loaded 17 pallets packed with essential supplies: cots, dryers, dehumidifiers, fans, wet/dry vacuums, various pumps – and more shipments on the way.
• Coordinating logistics to expedite support.

Shishmaref: West Landfill & Sewage Lagoon: Berm completely wiped out, leaving sewage lagoon exposed; urgent repair recommended to prevent contamination risk.

Sanitation Road (East & West): Significant erosion and structural impact; additional armoring required for protection against future storms.

East Sewage Lagoons: Berm destroyed, leaving lagoons unprotected and in need of emergency repairs to prevent breaches.

West Coast Storm October 25, 2024 AM Update

Resources Deployed to Region

• Drones
• Starlink
• DOT&PF Personnel in region including construction, design, and maintenance
• Equipment on site in Nome, Kotzebue

Nome Update: Assessment Complete

Nome-Council Highway Storm Damage (Oct 2024)

• Site 1 (MP 16.5): 1200' damaged; debris cleared, temporary borrow fill used. Armor stone displaced, surface needs resurfacing.
• Site 2 (MP 21): Flooded 1200' section with standing water (up to 6"); minor surface damage near MP 21.1.
• Site 3 (MP 22.2): 1000' road damage post-Safety Sound Bridge; road reduced to single lane, subbase eroded, temporary fill applied.
• Site 4 (MP 24): 3000' section affected; debris cleared, armor stone displaced, slight road narrowing.
• Site 5 (MP 33.5, Solomon): Embankment erosion over 300-500'; 1' vertical exposure of pavement section, debris along the western side.

Shishmaref and Deering assessment are being conducted today

Kotzbue Update: DOT&PF State Equipment Fleet (SEF) moved supplies to Kotzebue the afternoon of Thursday, October 24, including seventeen pallets of cots, driers, dehumidifiers, fans, wet/dry vacs,  sump pumps, and larger pumps on their way with more to come.

Equipment in Kotzebue – Loader, plow truck, cradle broom, deice truck. Contractor provided (Drake Construction) haul truck w/operator, and Borough vehicle

Airport repairs are ongoing.

Kotzebue Area: Kotzebue Airport: Kotzebue Maintenance team was able to restore the runway lighting on the Kotzebue Airport by around 9 p.m. last night.

Initial inspection indicates that the airfield is in relatively good condition, considering it was completely submerged, less than 24 hours before. 

West Coast Storm October 23, 2024 Noon Update

Kotzebue Area: Kotzebue Airport: The airport is closed as the main runway is currently submerged. Water levels are high in Kotzebue but are expected to fall later tonight. The short gravel runway 18-36 is under water, so it remains closed until the water recedes. 

Nome Region: Nome-Teller Road: Reported to be underwater,

Council Highway:

• Mile 16.5-17: Debris accumulation from high water and wind.
• Mile 23 (just past the Safety Bridge): Significant erosion, with 4-5 feet of erosion affecting 200 feet of road. Short-term fix includes 20-30 side dump loads of fill, while a long-term solution involves restoring the road to pre-Merbok levels and reinforcing erosion barriers with riprap.
• Mile 25: Closed due to logs and driftwood. Initial assessments indicate the road is mostly intact. Equipment will be sent tomorrow to reopen the road for those still at Council.
  Nome Airports: Morning Alaska flight made it through, but evening flights were canceled due to high winds. All Bering Air flights canceled for the day. Gambell Airport remains closed due to runway debris.

Unalakleet (UNK): Water Levels: Water levels have reached 6 feet but did not overtop the runway. The existing berms constructed after Typhoon Merbok have held and prevented any runway damage.

Debris Clearance: Debris on the Barge Landing Road has been primarily cleared, and the pump house remains intact but will be checked for any damage.

High Water and Erosion: Experiencing high water. There has been some erosion on one of the bump outs for snow removal. Minor repairs will be needed once the storm subsides.

Shaktoolik: Both the Septage Lagoon and Wasteria Lagoon are overflowing, and the tannery has been displaced from its foundation.

Shishmaref: Erosion Damage: Significant impacts include Sanitation Road being washed away due to erosion, affecting access to critical infrastructure.

Dump Berm: The protective berm at the end of the road near the dump was wiped out, raising concerns over waste containment and environmental risks.

Numam Iqua: Reported to be heavily impacted, though specific details are currently unavailable.

Kotlik: Water Levels: Water levels have risen to boardwalk level, potentially exceeding it.

Hooper Bay, Scammon Bay, Chevak, Alakanuk: All four communities are reported to be impacted.

Gambell: Runway Debris Clearance: Crews are clearing debris from the runway, mainly small driftwood and sand. No major damage reported to this point. Gambell Airport remains closed due to runway debris.

Kotzebue: Water is receding in Kotzebue this morning. Runway is visible now. Crews are removing debris and 4 - 8 inches of ice from the main runway. Damages reported are debris on the entire airport, beach access road severely damaged.

Snow Removal Equipment Building (SREB) is flooded with about six inches of water. More damage likely but assessment will have to wait until water recedes.

Ice flows caused significant damage, including the loss of numerous edge lights and the removal of the east-end wind sock. The access road heading to south tent city is severely damaged.

Water reached knee-deep levels inside the terminals and hangars on the airport. The runway safety area and ramp are still flooded; the runway.

Once ramp conditions improve, and the taxiway is cleared, we will work to resume flight operations.

In addition to the flooding, the surge brought in rocks, gravel, and debris.

Operators worked throughout the night and we are bringing in additional operators to assist.

Gambell: Airport closed due to debris on runway, no significant damage.

Shaktoolik: Loss of unknown amount of shoreline protection berm, power outages.

Nome: Debris and erosion on Nome Council Highway

Unalakleet: High water erosion of area used for airport snow removal.

St. Michael: Derelict barge floated by storm and concern with possible impact to fuel tank.

Teller: Power line down. AVEC notified.

Diomede: Power outage. AEA engaged. 2 Connex floated by storm.

Shishmaref: Damage to protective berm, concern with serious community flooding if completely compromised.   outbuilding floated. Sewage lagoon and washateria lagoon inundation a concern