The State of Alaska has stepped in to support the Matanuska-Susitna Borough after days of hurricane-force winds and life-threatening cold battered the region.
Late Tuesday night, Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued a state disaster emergency for the Borough and the cities of Palmer and Houston, following the Borough’s own local disaster declaration earlier in the day.
The state action comes after a prolonged wind event from Dec. 5–9 that brought gusts up to 89 miles per hour, sub-zero wind chills, widespread damage to homes and businesses, and power outages affecting thousands.
The State Emergency Operations Center had been in steady communication with Borough officials since the onset of the storm, monitoring conditions as temperatures plunged and critical infrastructure strained under the combined force of wind and extreme cold.
By Tuesday night, nearly all electrical service in the Borough had been restored, but the region remained on alert as crews continued repairs on damaged infrastructure. The emergency shelter operated earlier in the week by the American Red Cross, the City of Wasilla, and Mat-Su College was kept on standby status as a precaution.
The state disaster declaration unlocks additional resources to aid with recovery, including support for rebuilding damaged public infrastructure and assistance for individuals and businesses affected by the multi-day storm. Borough officials say assessing the full scope of damage will take time, but the state’s involvement will accelerate both response and relief.
The combination of hurricane-force winds and dangerous cold made this one of the most severe early-winter weather events the Mat-Su has experienced in a few years, prompting the Borough to request state financial relief for both public and individual assistance programs. With the declaration now in place, state agencies will begin coordinating longer-term recovery efforts with local authorities.
One thought on “Gov. Dunleavy issues state disaster emergency order for Mat-Su windstorm”
One month before the 2026 legislature session convenes
Maybe Western Alaska’s storm and Matsu storm will be a big enough warning to right size government and reduce Alaskans government dependency
You can always hope those big government legislators see the writing on the wall
I hope in people can change but I also I know the legislature are ungodly and lack wisdom