South Carolina sending emergency personnel to help with storm recovery in Alaska

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) — Emergency management personnel from two South Carolina counties are deploying to Alaska to aid response and recovery efforts after storms following devastating back-to-back storms.

Thousands of people were displaced after remnants of Typhoon Halong brought record flooding to low-lying coastal villages, including Kipnuk and Kwigillingok. State officials have reported that about 90% of buildings in Kipnuk are destroyed, as well as 35% in Kwigillingok.

Owen Kutscher and Ben Webster, both from Charleston County, traveled to the region on Tuesday to assist with disaster relief operations. Kutscher is serving as a Situation Unit Leader, helping to assesss damage for incident commanders and elected officials, while Webster is working as a Volunteer Agency Liasion, coordinating delivery of resources to survivors.

Michael Brown with Spartanburg County Emergency Management is serving as a Mass Care Deputy, a postion in which he will coordinate emergency assistance services for people impacted by the storms.

The deployment was coordinated through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a national mutual aid agreement that enables a governor to request personnel and equipment from other states for assistance before, during, or after a disaster.

“When Hurricane Helene hit our state last year, we were supported by other states through the EMAC,” said SCEMD Director Kim Stenson. “It’s important that we continue to help each other when disasters strike. Our emergency response community is ready and prepared to help.”

Alaskans helped provide aid to South Carolina during the 2015 flood and in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

“South Carolinians know all too well the devastation that severe flooding brings,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “Just as other states have answered our call for assistance in times of need, South Carolina is ready to return that same support to Alaska. Our emergency management professionals are among the very best in the country, and they are fully prepared to assist in this recovery.”