Prepare for when disaster hits

On Sept. 21, the Gov. Sean Parnell declared the Mat-Su Borough a disaster area. President Barack Obama signed the federal disaster declaration on Nov. 27.

The Emergency Operations Center responded to the flood disaster at full staff for nine days. Heavy rain swelled many rivers and creeks simultaneously to flood levels, damaging 823 structures, destroying 14 homes and disrupting more than 60 roads, at initial count. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough’s disaster declaration ended Sept. 29. Now, the borough is in a recovery mode.

Less than two weeks before the general election, Hurricane Sandy hit. Sandy, a late-season post-tropical cyclone, swept through the Caribbean and up the East Coast of the United States in late October. The storm left more than 100 dead, thousands homeless and millions without power. Total damage is expected to be in the billions of dollars. Most of the differences were marked only by magnitude.

It was during the aftermath of Sandy that I really began to seriously question a lot of the assumptions that modern planners push on government. Some of those are dense, concentrated population centers, mass transit, etc. I firmly believe that the fewer government dependencies we create as we grow, the healthier we will be and the faster we will recover from major disasters. The more we can promote infrastructure that contributes to independent lifestyles and a truly local economy, the more resilient we will be.

In thinking about your own personal safety in the face of almost certain likelihood of eventually facing either bigger floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, fires, tsunamis, windstorms, severe cold, fuel shortages or even personal health issues, I think we can learn some lessons from the victims of Sandy.

Prepare your private property. There is no excuse for trees to fall on houses or houses to be consumed in large fires. These are preventable, and we have existing “Fire Wise” advice available at firewise.org. I have driven around properties in the Willow area that are a disaster waiting to happen. Homes with dense black spruce immediately adjacent to the buildings will be indefensible when the conditions are right and another Miller’s Reach Fire goes through the area.

Make proper decisions related to locating buildings relative to water bodies. Our updated flood maps identify high watermarks very accurately. In order to qualify for federal flood insurance, your foundation must be above the high water line.

Bed loading on many existing rivers and creeks suggests future problems that homeowners should anticipate. I am promoting management plans on the borough level that will mitigate some of these situations through gravel sales.

We should be prepared for precipitation in the magnitude of 10 inches per event in our watersheds. That would not be unusual in most of the rest of the world. Our recent disaster was triggered by an event in the Susitna Valley and the Matanuska Valley that was 6 inches or less.

Our borough website’s informational Emergency Preparedness page — matsugov.us/eoc — has resources and helpful tips for any emergency.

Your most reliable support in any disaster is the network of family and friends you can harness in time of need. No one is going to do that for you. You should think through as many scenarios as possible and try to anticipate who you can call. Get to know your neighbors. Cultivate their friendship. Discuss disaster plans in your community. Some disasters can be alleviated by simply planning better for roads or road alternates.

Widen your relationships to churches and fraternity groups where you are recognized and valued. They will be a responsive resource in time of need.

Federal Emergency Management Agency money will not be coming into the borough for months. Only this week have we been authorized to begin to apply. For questions, contact our emergency manager coordinating the disaster recovery, Casey Cook, at 373-8812 or ccook@matsugov.us.

Larry DeVilbiss has been borough mayor since January 2011.