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Community Flood Risk Reduction

Galena, Alaska - Flood Recovery

Learning Objective: Share the steps taken and lessons learned by a rural community in central Alaska to integrate resilience into rebuilding efforts and be better prepared for future flood events.

Part One

Background

Aerial view of flooding
Figure 1. Flooding in Galena in 2013.

During the spring break up in May of 2013, flood waters carrying massive ice chunks from the Yukon River inundated nearly 90% of the homes, businesses, and government facilities in the small town of Galena, Alaska. An ice jam downriver caused floodwaters to rise and back up overbank in Galena. House-sized chunks of ice mowed down the native birch trees and ripped homes off of pilings. Most areas received between seven and nine feet of water. The event forced nearly all of the 472 residents to evacuate by air to Fairbanks and Anchorage as waters quickly rose and local roads became impassable.

Located roughly 270 miles due west of Fairbanks in interior Alaska, Galena is a regional education and transportation hub on the banks of the Yukon River. Since its establishment in 1918 on an Alaskan Native fishing site, Galena has dealt with multiple destructive flooding events, a common issue for communities situated along the Yukon River.

The Galena Air Base was constructed in World War II as a stopover point for U.S. Air Force planes flying between the United States and Russia. In 1948, just a few years after the base was constructed, the Yukon River flooded the airstrip during a spring break up event. A robust levee was then constructed to protect the airstrip from future flood events. The base became a primary employer in the region, and homes, fuel distribution, storage facilities, and other infrastructure emerged along the banks of the river, outside of the levee protecting the airstrip. The base was officially closed in 2010, and the land and facilities were transferred to the City of Galena, the Galena School District, and the Alaska Department of Transportation.

The residents of Galena have long recognized the town’s vulnerability. Following a major flood in 1971, the community relocated the school, the health clinic, more than 150 residences, and city offices to a location 1.5 miles farther from the river, called New Town. The original town site, known as Old Town, remained partially occupied and at extreme risk from high velocity water and ballistic ice due to its location between the levee and the river. Soil conditions and permafrost make the Old Town area of Galena prone to erosion and liquefaction, both during flood events and as flood waters recede. The levee north of Old Town protecting the former U.S. Air Force base creates a pinching effect, forcing ice and water into Old Town and further increasing risk to people and property.

Residents still view the evacuation in May 2013 as a traumatic experience which they do not wish to repeat. Evacuating kids, elders, and sled dogs was a significant challenge for the community, and convinced Galena leadership that risk reduction, safer homes, and smarter development needed to be a high-priority during recovery.

Challenges

Snow and freezing temperatures typically begin in late September, so many residents would be unable to return until their homes were safe and habitable. Galena residents, volunteers and contractors worked hard throughout the summer to repair and rebuild as many homes and facilities as quickly as possible.  Destroyed homes and critical infrastructure – including septic and sewer systems – were the highest priority to complete before the Yukon froze.

The expedited rebuilding process involved significant logistical challenges. With no road or rail system connecting Galena to other communities in Alaska, people and goods – including emergency supplies and building materials – must be brought in via barge or plane. Hundreds of contractors and volunteers arrived by air requiring temporary lodging and feeding. Timelines were highly dependent on weather conditions, supply availability, and higher prices, which impacted the timely arrival of critical personnel and materials recovery projects were depending on.

The volunteers supporting home reconstructions, primarily carpenters and workers from Mennonite Disaster Services, were hard-pressed to meet the demand for repairs and rebuilds before winter. Once construction began, several residents identified concerns about construction methods and materials used to mitigate future hazards, as well as the resulting increased cost to rebuild. For example, some homes were slated to be elevated as high as 20 feet to be out of harm’s way in future floods, but elderly homeowners would have difficulty climbing all the stairs in order to access their homes.

At the same time, Galena families who rely on subsistence food also had to make time for fishing and hunting to build up their winter food stocks. To accommodate the community’s priorities, Galena leadership requested that the federal Interagency Recovery Coordination (IRC) partners delay local engagement until after moose hunting season.

Part Two

Actions

Early in the recovery, with support from state and federal officials, the Galena City Council passed an ordinance requiring that all new construction be elevated two feet above base flood elevation. This timely action integrated risk reduction into the permitting process before residents expended their own money, federal housing grants, or insurance proceeds on repairing or rebuilding their homes.

A brown wood house
Figure 2. A home in Galena prior to elevation.
A brown wooden house elevated off the ground
Figure 3. The same home in Galena, after elevation.

The Galena City Manager and Louden Tribal Administrator  worked closely with the State Hazard Mitigation Officer to identify and scope eligible at-risk homes for elevation using the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and funds from the State of Alaska. The Alaska Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) was able to expedite the contract for performing the elevations so that the work could be done before the winter. Average winter temperatures in Galena range between 7° and minus 16° F, so the expedited timeline was crucial in allowing families to re-occupy their homes sooner and helping to restore community stability. The Louden Tribal Council served as the applicant for all elevation projects.

In collaboration with the State Coordinating Officer (SCO), the Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) determined that the investment of federal funds for permanent construction in Old Town, where no effective mitigation options are available, would violate 44 CFR Part 9.2, of E.O. 11988 which directs FEMA to avoid adverse impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of floodplains and to avoid direct and indirect support of floodplain development. The decision aligned with the community’s risk reduction goal of limiting development in this high-risk area. In consultation with the community, the FCO restricted federal funding in Old Town to emergency work and temporary repairs only.

The SCO and FCO conducted a community meeting to explain the limited federal funding for Old Town and provide residents with a forum for questions and concerns. Additional meetings, as well as community visits, were held to answer questions about the elevation project and funding and encourage homeowners to participate in the elevation project.

Galena leadership also pursued the acquisition of a parcel of land still owned by the Air Force, located 11 miles from the river and out of the high flood risk area. The parcel has the potential to accommodate recreational, residential, or other uses. Galena’s ownership of this land allows for greater flexibility in its future development. Galena leadership worked successfully with their Congressional delegation to make the transfer official through the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

In late October, after the expedited rebuilding effort was over, the Louden Tribal Council hired a Galena Local Disaster Recovery Coordinator (LDRC), a two-year position funded by the Alaska Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (AK DHSEM). The LDRC recruited community champions to support the recovery process locally, including by continuing the execution of hazard mitigation projects and forming a local Recovery Planning Committee.

Key Partners

  • Galena Community Leadership
  • City of Galena
  • Louden Tribal Council
  • Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM)
  • FEMA
  • Alaska Department of Community & Economic Development (DCRA)
  • United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

In January 2014, Galena hosted two evening community potlatch meetings, to ensure residents had a say in defining recovery goals and projects. Around 30 Galena residents participated in the meetings, which were conducted by the LDRC and a FEMA Alternative Dispute Resolution facilitator. Divided into small discussion groups, the community members were able to discuss their goals and potential projects directly with state and federal leadership. These solutions-based conversations helped residents brainstorm feasible projects, identify goals, and list community needs. Collectively, Galena residents identified over 200 projects for consideration. Each project was captured in writing at the community meetings and clarified in subsequent IRC planning meetings. The IRC team committed to honoring the projects as written by the community.

Galena’s Five Recovery Priorities

(Established by Galena residents at recovery-focused, facilitated community meetings.)

  • Reduce risks to life and property
  • Improve energy generation and efficiency
  • Improve housing quality
  •  Increase the number of leaders and skilled workers
  • Develop models for economic growth

From the initial list of 200 projects, the LDRC and the Recovery Planning Committee prioritized the top 30 items. Plans for the implementation of this “top priorities” were developed in partnership with the LDRC and the project champions on the Recovery Planning Committee. These five priorities formed the structure of the recovery effort. IRC partners supported project implementation by providing technical assistance, identifying funding and resources, and assisting with building capacity so that federal and state program opportunities could be leveraged.

The Recovery Planning Committee and the IRC continued to convene monthly for six months. Federal and state agencies continued to support the recovery effort after FEMA regional personnel transitioned back to steady-state duties.

Case Comparison

Construction on Floodplains in New Jersey Following Superstorm Sandy

Similar to Galena, New Jersey communities were highly motivated to reduce property risk after destructive flooding resulting from Superstorm Sandy in 2012. New Jersey communities also adopted stricter elevation requirements for development within floodplains. All rehabilitation and reconstruction resulting from Superstorm Sandy in New Jersey had to meet the following criteria, when applicable:

  • Within tidal floodplains, the lowest floor of the structure had to be elevated at least one foot above the highest state- or FEMA-designated 100-year flood level.
  • Within non-tidal floodplains, the lowest floor of the structure had to be elevated at least one foot above the state-designated flood level for that location.

Both locations also contended with accessibility challenges, particularly for elderly residents who expressed a strong desire to age in place. In Galena, residents only required a doctor’s note to obtain an Americans with Disabilities (ADA) compliant ramp for their elevated homes, but no residents requested the installation of a ramp. In New Jersey, a key activity under the state’s Supportive Services Program was the distribution of grants for elderly or mobility-disabled households to install accessibility improvements during post-disaster reconstruction efforts. These improvements included ramps, rails, and elevators that will ensure vulnerable elderly populations can easily get in and out of their homes before, during, and after a disaster.

Results

Of the 54 residential structures deemed “severely damaged,” 42 were elevated using a combination of HMGP, homeowner insurance, and FEMA Individual Assistance (IA) program funds. Alaska DHSEM funded an additional nine elevations. Each home cost approximately $100,000 to elevate. Other homeowners were able to combine FEMA Individuals and Household Program (IHP) funding and volunteer labor to rebuild and elevate to the higher standard set by the City Council.

Tribal, city, state, and federal representatives worked closely with the construction team to address all resident concerns in a timely manner and rectify issues where possible. However, due to concerns about the overall increased cost of construction resulting from the higher elevation requirement, no new construction permits have been issued in Galena since the code was enacted.

The elevation ordinance passed by the City Council exceeded the federal recommendation by one foot, demonstrating the community’s commitment to mitigation and resiliency. The result has been increased preparedness for future flood disasters of this scale, and an assurance that future construction projects in Galena will meet minimum safety standards. The elevation project allowed residents to remain in their homes safely, no longer fearful of losing their house or having to evacuate during the next flood event.

The decision not to apply federal funding to non-emergency efforts within Old Town supported the community’s previous decision to relocate buildings to lower-risk areas, an effort that had started prior to this disaster with the relocation of community buildings to New Town. Limiting new construction in Old Town will continue to reduce the risk to critical infrastructure, lives, and livelihoods for Galena residents. In addition, the transfer of the Air Force parcel land into Galena ownership provides a much safer location for future development.

Eleven FEMA Public Assistance (PA) projects also included Section 406 Mitigation funding, which supported improvements to culverts, elevation of emergency generators, and flood-proofing certain facilities and structures.

Lessons Learned

  • Galena’s commitment to risk reduction directly contributed to successful recovery projects and increased resilience for future disasters.
  • Deliberate public engagement in decision-making processes, along with clear and consistent communication, are critical steps for successful community recovery.
  • Galena’s recovery was locally-driven by strong local leadership, with support from federal and state agency partners committed to collaborating with community members and honoring Galena’s recovery goals.

Follow up with the FEMA Guidance Development Office 

The Guidance Development Office (GDO) develops and distributes FEMA’s Interagency Recovery Coordination (IRC) case studies. Our team would appreciate your feedback on these case studies and accompanying teaching notes. To get in contact with our team, please email FEMA-RECOVERY-ICD-GDO@fema.dhs.gov.

Case Study Downloads

Alaska – Galena Risk Reduction Case Study

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Citations

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Teaching Notes

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