Storm Damage Estimated at $30,000 in Alaskan Village

November 21, 2011

An official with the Northwest Arctic Borough says damage at the village of Kivalina from the massive Bering Sea storm last week was upward of $30,000.

Wendie Schaeffer was the borough’s incident commander for the storm. She says damage could have been far worse.

Schaeffer says Kivalina homes sustained damage to metal roofs and siding and four homes had damage to heating systems.

Large doors blew off a heavy equipment storage shed and the community experienced erosion at the airport.

Schaeffer says Kivalina officials are seeking disaster relief and the borough will contribute $5,000 to that effort.

The storm was one of the strongest to hit western Alaska in nearly 40 years, with winds of nearly 90 mph and storm surge that battered beaches and sea walls.