February 2012

Alaskan Fishing Town Survives Snow Emergency

Cordova, AlaskaCordova, Alaska

Cordova, Alaska

A member of the Alaska National Guard clears snow off a roof in Cordova.

The winter of 2011–2012 in Alaska has been one of the hardest in recent history. Within just a couple of weeks, more than 10 feet of snow fell on the fishing town of Cordova on Alaska’s southern coast. The heavy snow caused roofs to collapse on some buildings. It also set off avalanches. Some residents were trapped in their homes for a time. Emergency responders and local volunteers shoveled out homes and other buildings that were buried under the snow. However, the snow kept falling and the people could not shovel it fast enough. In all, the town got more than 20 feet of snow. The weather was so bad that some townspeople were calling it “Snowpocalypse 2012.”

On January 6, Cordova Mayor James Kallander declared the town a disaster area. He asked for assistance from the state government. Two days later, more than 50 troops from the Alaska National Guard arrived to help dig out the town. The state also sent heavy equipment, such as a snow-melting machine. The National Guard troops worked with the town’s emergency workers and volunteers. Together, they made sure that the hospital and other important buildings could stay open. They also ensured that all residents were able to leave their homes. The town was very grateful for everyone’s hard work.

After dealing with the snow emergency, the more than 2,200 people of Cordova continued to clean up their community. Many residents looked forward to Cordova’s annual Ice Worm Festival, which began on February 2. The four-day event was a much-needed break for the town. The festival is inspired by the tiny ice worm, an unusual animal that lives inside glaciers in Alaska. The festival includes games, food, crafts, fireworks, and a parade. One of the highlights of the parade is the giant blue ice worm puppet that people hold up like a Chinese New Year dragon.

Image credit: REUTERS/Specialist Balinda O’Neal/Alaska National Guard Public Affairs/Handout
 
Question 1
How many feet of snow did Cordova get in just two weeks time?





 
Question 2
How did troops from the Alaska National Guard help the people of Cordova?






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