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Northwest Arctic Borough panel reviews west-coast storm response, schedules LSU emergency training
Summary
The Northwest Arctic Borough Public Safety Commission heard updates on recent west-coast storms in Kotzebue and Deering, recorded a January 2025 emergency-preparedness training with Louisiana State University in Selawik and Kotzebue, and discussed rebuilding the Local Emergency Planning Committee and village incident-command inventories.
Chairman Billy Lee convened the Northwest Arctic Borough Public Safety Commission on Dec. 19 in Kotzebue to review storm response efforts and plan emergency-training for early 2025.
The meeting’s most substantive item was an update from Chris Hatch on west-coast storm impacts in Kotzebue and Deering. Hatch outlined cleanup activity and recovery work; Assembly President Nathan Hadley urged more planning, saying the storms are increasing in frequency and communities should prepare accordingly. Commissioners asked whether Kiana participated with ARUC maintenance support for water and sewer systems and noted local cleanup efforts.
Commissioners also recorded an initial emergency-preparedness training offered through Louisiana State University scheduled for January 2025 in Selawik and Kotzebue. The training is part of a federally funded program; VPSO Coordinator Darrell Hildebrand said he looks forward to seeing communities engage with the instructors. "We look forward to seeing you all in the community," Hildebrand said.
Several commissioners pressed for broader, local readiness. Commissioner David Barr delivered a winter-safety reminder for snowmobile travel: "let someone know your trip plan," avoid pressure ridges and consider carrying a SPOT device. Commissioner Elsie Sampson raised concerns about pressure ridges and asked the Borough to produce an updated inventory and an incident-command list for each village so local responders know available equipment and contacts.
Commissioners discussed training needs for local responders and law enforcement. Commissioner Jackie Hill asked about active-shooter training, and Chief Christopher Cook and others discussed making slots available for Kotzebue Police and Alaska State Troopers to attend the LSU sessions where appropriate. Darrell Hildebrand noted prior work on a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the TCC VPSO Program and the Borough and said he will continue pursuing interagency coordination.
The commission also reported administrative items: Clerk Stella Atoruk administered the oath of office to Sgt. Vernie Fowler and Chief Christopher Cook, the agenda was approved as amended and the June 6, 2024 minutes were accepted. Chair Lee said he will work with staff to set the next meeting date. The meeting recessed at 10:03 A.M. and reconvened at 10:12 A.M.; it adjourned at 11:10 A.M.
Votes at a glance: the agenda amendment to add the oath of office and the minutes approval were adopted (motions seconded and passed by the commission), and the meeting adjournment motion was approved.
What’s next: Chairman Lee will coordinate scheduling the next public-safety commission meeting; commissioners expect follow-up on summit planning (Kivalina or Noorvik), the LSU training logistics for January 2025, and the requested village incident-command inventories.
