Native Village of Kwinhagak
Quinhagak LR.A. Council
P.O. Box 149, Quinhagak, AK 99655
Phone (907) 556-8171 Fax (907) 556-8166
DISASTER DECLARATION
WHEREAS: the community of Quinhagak is located on the Kanektok River, and
is only accessible by plane, or seasonally by boat and snowmachine; and
WHEREAS: the Native Village of Kwinhagak is a federally recognized Tribe,
responsible for the wellbeing of its 1020 citizens; and
WHEREAS: on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, the community's power plant went down,
leaving the entire community without power; and
WHEREAS: the following buildings and operations are still impacted by the
power outage: 52 homes, 4 Tribal buildings, the only community’s only clinic, the
community’s only runway, Qanirtuug Corporation (Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
village corporation), the only grocery store, Coastal Village Regional Fund (Community
Development Quota nonprofit), the US Postal Service Office, and the community water
plant and distribution center; and
WHEREAS: as of December 11, 2023, the whole community is impacted with the
power outage; and
WHEREAS: the power outage has created an imminent risk to the health, life, and
safety of Quinhagak residents; and
WHEREAS: further community infrastructure, such as piped water, will freeze
without adequate heat in homes and without water circulation through the water plant;
and
WHEREAS: the community’s runway is the only means of transportation of
cargo and passengers in or out of the community; and
WHEREAS: the use of backup generators in an attempt to maintain some
essential services has placed an unexpected strain on the community’s winter fuel supply;
and
WHEREAS: in addition to the loss of heat and direct danger due to extreme cold,
the water and sewer system is at immediate risk of freeze-up and catastrophic failure; andNative Village of Kwinhagak
Quinhagak LR.A. Council
P.O. Box 149, Quinhagak, AK 99655
Phone (907) 556-8171 Fax (907) 556-8166
WHEREAS: the severity and magnitude of the emergency is beyond the timely and
effective response capability of local resources; and
WHEREAS: there are insufficient regularly appropriated funds to cover the
expenses of this emergency; and
WHEREAS: the Tribe and other local governance are forming a working group to
solve the ongoing power needs of the community, and are working with the State of
Alaska Emergency Operations Center.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: the Native Village of Kwinhagak
declares a Disaster Emergency under AS 26.23.140 to exist in Quinhagak and requests
the assistance of the State of Alaska and for disaster relief aid for Quinhagak to assist
with response and recovery; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: the undersigned certifies that the Native
Village of Kwinhagak has inadequate resources with which to respond to this disaster and
therefore requests State assistance.
DECLARED this 11" day of December 2023.
Opn ewe
Dorothy Matk, President