To:
Mayor George N. Ahmaogak, Sr.
Through:
CAO Dennis Packer
John Ames, Director of Administration and Finance
John Miller, Deputy Director Administration and Finance
Joe Stankiewicz, Risk Manager
From:
Rob Elkins, Assistant Risk Manager
Date:
August 6, 2003
Subject:
Storm Report
SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:
The days of July 28 and 29 saw a coastal storm embrace the North Slope Borough.
Caused by the formation of a low pressure system over Russia, the storm then moved
east, and passed approximately 250 miles north of Barrow. As a result of the storm,
waves approaching 12 to 15 feet were driven by winds ranging from 30 to 48 mph.
The North Slope Borough Department of Municipal Services began preemptive measures
to reduce the storms impact on the coastline on the morning of July 28th. Existing sand
and gravel burms along the Barrow coastline were built up, while new ones were
constructed in previously unprotected areas.
By 2:00 pm on July 29th, storm surges began eroding a portion of the Stevenson road just
south of the Barrow Landfill. DMS personnel closed the roadway, utilizing Cakeeater
Road as an alternate route. Erosion from the high seas also caused closure of portions of
Egasak Street.
Substantial erosion was reported in Wainwright, where a bluff housing several ice cellars
was threatened. Kaktovik saw waves sufficient to force temporary closure to the airport
runway, also forcing the runway lighting system to be turned off to avoid further damage.
The storm subsided by 5:00 pm on July 29th, whereupon DMS personnel began
reparations to areas damaged by the storm.
ATTRIBUTABLE COSTS:
Location
Barrow
Barrow
Item
Overtime wages (72 hours)
Gravel (42 loads)
Cost
$10,752.00
Barrow and Wainwright
400 Large Sand Bags
$57,180.00
Costs attributable to efforts to remediate damage in Wainwright are unavailable at this
time. With the stated intentions of DMS to backfill eroded areas, along with the filling of
super-sacks with sand to provide additional protection to the area, it appears total cost of
manpower and materials will easily exceed $10,000.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
With ongoing climate change, and predictions of disappearing sea ice in the recent future,
the likelihood of severe damage from future coastal storms is high. Recent events
illustrate the vulnerability of Stevenson Street to damage from coastal storm surges.
Serious thought must be put into how the North Slope Borough can best protect both
public and private properties bordering our coastline. Temporary measures, such as
sandbags may have some short-term value, but their utilization to provide long-term
remediation is questionable.
Additional thought should be given to the development of an alternative roadway
connecting NARL and Barrow. The annual challenge of damage to Stevenson Street and
Egasak Street is likely to worsen in future years, eventually causing risk of inability of
emergency service provision to NARL for substantial periods of time. Development of
an eastern access to NARL would mitigate this risk.
More severe measures, such as the construction of a seawall, or relocation of structures
and infrastructure threatened by future coastal erosion should be carefully studied based
upon a cost/benefit ratio. The protection of the current landfill from being breached by
erosion, and the potential for pollution of our coastal environments must also be weighed
carefully.
The annual challenges of flood damage to the runway in Kaktovik also illustrate a need to
either protect the current runway with a seawall, or examine the need to completely
relocate the facility to a more protected area. Again, this decision needs to be studied
closely, with determination being made based upon a cost/benefit ration.