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State of Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Office of Public Affairs P.O. Box 5800, Camp Denali Fort Richardson, Alaska 99505-5800 (907) 428-6031 Fax 428-6035 |
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State of Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Office of Public Affairs P.O. Box 5800, Camp Denali Fort Richardson, Alaska 99505-5800 (907) 428-6031 Fax 428-6035 |
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | 1 February 2000 |
| POC: Kerre Martineau, (907) 428-6034 | PR000201 |
TASK FORCE TO ASSESS AVALANCHE THREAT
State Emergency Coordination Center activated to respond to avalanche dangers
CAMP DENALI, Alaska --- The Division of Emergency Services has established a task force of several State agencies to address the continued threat of avalanches throughout Alaska. The group includes representatives several state and federal agencies, including Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Department of Law, National Weather Service, National Park Service and American Red Cross.
"With this group of local experts and emergency responders, we hope to be able to conduct assessments of avalanche threats around the state and provide advance warnings to those areas in the most imminent danger," said DES Director Dave Liebersbach.
Because of the recent avalanches in Cordova and elsewhere in Southcentral Alaska and the continued potential of additional slides, DES has also activated the State Emergency Coordination Center (SECC) for
24-hour operations.
According to the National Weather Service, wildly fluctuating temperatures, heavy precipitation and moderate to high winds are expected to prevail over Southcentral Alaska and the areas adjacent to Prince William Sound throughout this week creating additional avalanche hazards.
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