Storm Surge of Ice Damages Subsistence Camps

Observation by Toby Anungazuk Jr:

The huge November storm that struck Western Alaska caused damage to several subsistence camps at the mouth of the Kitchavik River north of Golovin. Sea ice went up on the shore several hundred feet and destroyed four of eight subsistence fishing camps. The other four were damaged. Sea ice went up on the shore several hundred feet and destroyed four of eight subsistence fishing camps.

Comments from LEO Editors:

In the months that followed, FEMA provided assistance to Golovin to recover from the storm. However, subsistence camps do not qualify for federal disaster assistance, and some residents faced financial hardships and uncertainty about how to gather food in the storm’s aftermath. The development of assistance programs for subsistence disruption is recommended. Mike Brubaker