WHEREAS, spring in Alaska brings the potential for devastating floods caused by ice jams in rivers, coastal storm surges, high precipitation, and rapid thawing of winter snow and ice that endangers lives, property, and community economies along major waterways; and

WHEREAS, nearly nine out of ten Alaska Native villages experience flooding and/or erosion; and

WHEREAS, in May of 2023 a 15 mile -long ice jam caused a flood that devastated the communities around the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers and resulted in Federal and State disaster declarations; and

WHEREAS, flood events make up 75 percent of all presidential declarations of emergency and major disasters nationwide; and

WHEREAS, the potential for loss of life, damage to property, and detrimental effects on the economy can be greatly reduced if appropriate flood preparedness and mitigation measures are implemented before and after flood events; and

WHEREAS, the Alaska Silver Jackets , a team made up of Federal, State, and local agencies, serves as a facilitator in developing comprehensive and sustainable solutions to flood hazard issues, including mitigation planning, flood hazard mapping, risk reduction activities, and response and recovery planning in Alaska; and

WHEREAS, Flood Preparedness Week aims to educate Alaskans on the potential risk to life and property from flooding and to promote planning and preparedness for flood events.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Mike Dunleavy, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ALASKA, do hereby proclaim April 14 – 20, 2024 as:

Flood Preparedness Week

in Alaska and urge all Alaskans to educate themselves about the potential for flood danger at their homes and in their communities and to share that knowledge with their neighbors.