Flood and High Wind in Alaska, August 23, 2005

The first major fall storm of the season hit the Bering Sea Coast the morning of August 23rd. This storm had two major impacts. Ahead of the associated front, strong wind whipped through south central Alaska. Behind the front, a high swell and sea was pushed into the Bristol Bay coasts coincident to one of the highest astronomical high tides of August. This resulted in a coastal storm surge approximately 2-3 feet above the maximum spring tide which caused significant flooding along lower lying villages of the Bristol Bay coast. Reports were received from Clark's Point that 4 homes were flooded by the surge, heavy equipment was swamped and the airstrip was under water. A family had to be evacuated when waves hit the old clinic and the community center, threatening to collapse the building. The whole lower village flooded. A dock at Clark's Point belonging to Trident Fisheries was destroyed. The dock at Ekuk, 2 miles south of Clark's Point, is "gone". The Harbor at Dillingham was "beat up", several boats were ripped loose and adrift in the harbor, and one automobile was shoved into the harbor by rolling waves. At Togiak the seawall held back the surge, but lost all its back fill and will have to be repaired. One fishing boat was ripped from its anchor onto the beach where its windows were smashed and its engine was filled with water. On the Naknek river a dock owned by Emily Untalan was destroyed and her 18 foot skiff was washed away. The strong winds mainly affected the Anchorage area. Numerous power outages occurred due to strong winds knocking trees down on power lines. Shingles were ripped from roofs. Portable shelters were blown around and mangled by this unseasonable early strong wind event.