Alaska Risk Map Program Kwethluk Risk MAP Study The Risk MAP process began for the community of Kwethluk in the summer of 2016 when the State and FEMA conducted a Risk MAP Interview with community officials. During the interview, Kwethluk officials identified persistent flood problems and other hazard areas of concern, which were discussed in more detail during the Discovery Meeting. Kwethluk Risk MAP Discovery Documents Discovery is the first part of the Risk MAP process. During this initial phase, the State, FEMA and local entities work together to collect data regarding local flood and other hazard risks. FEMA has data on national and regional levels, however FEMA relies heavily on information and data provided by communities because local officials are able to provide a holistic view of their communities and their known risks. The State prioritizes a watershed for Discovery based on evaluations of risk, need, availability of elevation data, regional knowledge of issues, and local input. After this data is collected, the study is evaluated on an extensive list of criteria. Kwethluk Risk MAP Discovery Meeting Agenda Kwethluk Risk MAP Discovery Meeting Presentation City of Kwethluk, Alaska Local Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2009 Kuskokwim Delta Watershed Discovery Report (includes the communities of Aniak, Kwethluk and Kwethluk) Kwethluk Discovery Map Kwethluk Reports and Studies Coming Soon! The Alaska State Risk MAP Coordinator, FEMA's Risk Analyst and the Alaska State Mitigation Planner traveled to Kwethluk on June 16, 2016 to conduct a Risk MAP Discovery Meeting with City of Kwethluk staff and community members. The State and FEMA discussed the purpose of the Risk MAP Program and how it could benefit the City of Kwethluk. Kwethluk’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) was completed in 2008, so the plan has expired. The City was considering an update to the plan in the near future. FEMA and the State discussed how the Risk MAP process could inform the next update of the LHMP. The community identified flood, fire, permafrost thaw and erosion hazards on a map. This information has been developed into a Discovery Map, below. Kwethluk Discovery Map Kwethluk's Discovery Map identifies critical facilities, areas of concern including channel migration, erosion, and flooding, environmentally sensitive areas, and mitigation needs. Click on the map image to open a full-sized version of the Discovery Map. Tables 1 and 2 below outline Kwethluk's risk assessment needs, hazards and mitigation actions. The high priority mitigation projects Kwethluk identified as part of the Discovery process are as follows: Kwethluk's High Priority Mitigation Projects Flooding Obtain flood insurance for all city structures, and continue compliance with NFIP regulations Suite of emergency plans and training/drills Kwethluk floodplain maps Public education Severe Storm Research and consider instituting the National Weather Service "Storm Ready" program Conduct special awareness activities, such as Winter Weather Awareness Week, Flood Awareness Week, etc. Expand public awareness about NOAA Weather Radio for continuous weather broadcasting and warning tone alert capability Wildfire Enhance public awareness of potential risk to life and personal property. Encourage mitigation measures in the immediate Become a Firewise community. Consider developing building codes and requirements for new construction Earthquake Identify buildings and facilities that must be able to remain operable during and following an earthquake event. The following risk assessment needs have been indentified for Kwethluk: Table 1: COMMUNITY Risk Assessment Needs Location Description Study Type The city has training needs related to benefit-cost analysis. Benefit-Cost Analysis A tundra wildfire burned near the runway in 2015. There are no working fire trucks, but the city does have hydrants. There is an interest in learning more about defensible space. Wildfire Risk Awareness/Assistance to Firefighters Grants The city would like to obtain more information on suitable locations for sewer/solid waste disposal in relation to changes in flooding due to climate change. The city is not in agreement with the USACE engineering data and risk to the environment. Suitability Study Analysis The mayor described building collapses due to permafrost thawing. The city would like more information on changes and specifically what the community could do to mitigate. Permafrost Study Erosion remains an ongoing issue. The community has already moved a couple of homes because of erosion from a storm event a couple of years ago. There are more homes they would like to move. Erosion Assessment The comprehensive plan (originated in 1998) was updated in 2014; however, the community expressed a desire to do a better job of defining where they want to be and what they want to be in a changing landscape. Local Planning The following hazard and mitigation actions been indentified for Kwethluk: Table 2: Kwethluk Hazard and Mitigation Action Hazard Location Description Mitigation Action Airport Access Road There is a low-lying area where water backs up over the Airport Access road. Elevate roadway or install drainage culvert FEMA Region X Risk MAP Newsletters For more information contact: Rebecca Rein State of Alaska Risk MAP Coordinator Division of Community and Regional Affairs Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development 550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1650, Anchorage, AK 99501-3569 Phone (907) 269-3037 Fax (907) 269-4539 Email: rebecca.rein@alaska.gov Revised 08/01/2024