Author: The Tundra Drums Staff
December 22, 2025 DR-4893-AK MA-005 FEMA News Desk: (425) 487-4610 fema-r10-newsdesk@fema.dhs.gov ANCHORAGE, Alaska – FEMA’s dedicated Alaska Call Center is supporting survivors impacted by the October West Coast Storms. The call center will be closed Dec. 24, 25, and 26, and will reopen Saturday, Dec. 27. The call center is open 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. It is closed on Sundays. Survivors may contact the call center at 1-866-342-1699. Yup’ik translators are available to support the call center from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday,…
The Fox Well is currently closed as facilities crews work on-site to resolve an operational issue, officials said. Maintenance says the well is expected to remain down for several hours while repairs are completed. Crews are actively working to restore service, and an update will be shared once the well reopens. Also Read: Archangel Road in Hatcher Pass Closed for Winter Residents are thanked for their patience as work continues. Further information will be provided as soon as it becomes available.
Students across Alaska are reminded that applications for the 2026–2027 Student Representative to the State Board of Education are due December 26. The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development is seeking a student to serve in an advisory role to the Alaska State Board of Education. The selected student will learn about board processes, participate in meetings, provide student perspectives on education issues, and travel to Juneau as part of the role. Eligible applicants must be enrolled in an Alaska public school and be a freshman, sophomore, or junior at the time of application. Required materials include a letter…
Public Works officials announced that snow removal operations have been temporarily suspended due to extreme cold weather, with temperatures reaching –30°F and colder. According to Public Works, conditions at these temperatures make it unsafe to operate snow removal equipment. Extreme cold can cause mechanical failures, reduce equipment reliability, and significantly increase safety risks for operators working outdoors for extended periods. Officials said both personnel safety and the protection of critical machinery are key concerns during such severe weather. As a result, snow clearing and related operations will remain on hold until temperatures rise to levels considered safe for equipment operation…
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation is inviting applications for its Investment Intern position, an opportunity that places interns at the center of managing one of Alaska’s most important financial assets. According to APFC, the selected intern will work directly with the Fund’s Chief Investment Officer, gaining first-hand exposure to how long-term investment decisions are made on behalf of all Alaskans. The internship is designed to provide practical insight into asset allocation, portfolio analysis, and the overall structure of institutional investment management. Interns will also gain experience across multiple investment asset classes, along with exposure to risk management and compliance practices…
The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection has issued a High Fire Danger Advisory for much of Southcentral Alaska, citing strong winds and a lack of snow cover that are creating conditions where fires can ignite and spread rapidly. The advisory covers wide areas, including the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, the Anchorage Municipality, and regions extending toward Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak. Officials say recent weather patterns have combined strong winds with exposed dry grasses, brush, and trees, increasing the risk of fast-moving fires. Local fire departments have already responded to multiple incidents in the wildland-urban interface, where fires were sparked by…
A trooper with the Washington State Patrol was killed Friday evening while investigating a crash along State Route 509 in Tacoma, authorities confirmed. According to the Washington State Patrol, the trooper was on scene responding to a traffic collision when the fatal incident occurred. Emergency responders were dispatched to the area, but the trooper was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials have not yet released the trooper’s name, pending notification of next of kin. Details surrounding the circumstances of the crash and how the trooper was struck have also not been made public. The incident remains under active investigation. Traffic…
A 28-year-old woman who had been reported missing earlier this month was found dead Friday near Anchorage’s Basher Trailhead, according to police. The victim was identified as Kaitlyn Kaganak. Authorities said her body was discovered in the area of Basher Trailhead, a popular access point to trails in the eastern part of the city. The Anchorage Police Department confirmed the discovery and said officers responded to the area after receiving information that led them to the scene. Kaganak had been reported missing earlier this month, prompting an investigation and efforts to locate her. Police stated that next of kin have…
Drivers in Sitka are being urged to use extra caution after the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities reported icy road conditions and a piece of highway equipment currently out of service. According to DOT&PF, winter weather has led to slippery driving conditions across parts of the road system. With reduced traction and ongoing maintenance activity, officials are advising motorists to slow down, allow extra travel time, and adjust driving behavior to match current conditions. DOT&PF recommends increasing following distance to reduce the risk of sliding, braking and accelerating gently, and taking turns slowly while avoiding sudden lane changes.…
Western Canada is currently experiencing one of the most severe cold events on the planet, as temperatures in parts of the Yukon have plunged to approximately –60 degrees Celsius, marking the coldest air mass anywhere on Earth at this time. According to meteorological observations, an intense Arctic air mass has settled over northern regions of Canada, driving temperatures far below seasonal averages. Communities across the Yukon have reported dangerously low wind chill values, with conditions severe enough to pose immediate risks of frostbite and hypothermia within minutes of outdoor exposure. Weather experts say the extreme cold is the result of…
For the second day in a row, the Juneau Airport has set a new record low temperature, this time for December 20. According to official weather data, temperatures at the airport dropped to 7 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, breaking the previous December 20 record by two degrees. The reading marks another notable cold-weather milestone for the capital city, where such extreme lows are relatively uncommon. Temperatures later rebounded slightly as conditions changed. By Saturday night, readings climbed back above zero, reaching the teens in downtown Juneau and at the airport. Meteorologists attributed the improvement to increased winds, which helped mix…
At 8:03 a.m. MST (7:03 a.m. PST), the Northern Hemisphere officially tilts into winter with the arrival of the winter solstice, the astronomical event that marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. The winter solstice occurs when Earth’s axial tilt positions the Northern Hemisphere farthest away from the sun. As a result, the sun follows its lowest and shortest path across the sky, bringing minimal daylight to northern regions. While today represents the darkest day of the year in terms of daylight hours, it also signals a turning point. Beginning tomorrow, daylight will gradually increase each day,…