Winter Storm Disrupts Village Communication

Observation: There is no GCI communication service. No cell phones, internet, and land line phones. The GCI building was damaged by the storm. Here are some Gambell Airport pictures. This is the whole length of the of the airstrip, and in 26 and 27, the waves are still going on the airport. Observation by Debbie Apatiki, Village Public Safety Office (VPSO) Gamble, with help from Tonya James, ANTHC.

LEO Says: This is one of posts received as a request for situation updates about the winter storm that struck Alaska in late December. The posts have been compiled in the Project which is attached to this observation. There are currently a total of seven observations about the storm from communities in Southcentral Alaska and Western Alaska.

Media:

The Nome Nugget – New Year's Storm Pummels Bering Strait, St. Lawrence Island, "St. Lawrence Island seemed to have been hit the hardest with high winds that hammered the island. According to Gambell resident Debbie Apatiki, there is no sea ice in front of Gambell and stormy seas and big waves crashed across the community’s runway, taking out the airport lights. In Nome, National Weather Service meteorological technician Chris Clarke described the multi-day weather event as a series of storms. A general, stationary low pressure system in the Bering Sea set the stage for numerous low pressure systems to follow." By Diana Haecker, TNN - Nome (2017-01-06)