Operation Merbok Response reaches out to affected communities, assists with recovery efforts

Photo By Balinda ONeal | Alaska National Guard Senior Airman Terrell Germain, 176th Wing Maintenance Squdron, of Joint Task Force-Bethel clears storm debris from a boardwalk in Newtok, Alaska as part of Operation Merbok Response, Sept. 22, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which includes members of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Balinda O'Neal)  

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, UNITED STATES

09.23.2022

Story by Alan Brown 

Alaska National Guard   

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – After deploying to the hub communities of Bethel, Nome and Hooper Bay on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, Joint Task Force Alaska conducted debris clean up, damage assessments, and other recovery tasks in the wake of last weekend’s storm.

To date, JTF-Alaska has assisted eight communities to include: Bethel, Chevak, Golovin, Hooper Bay, Newtok, Nightmute, Shaktoolik and Tununak. Spread out over 2400 miles, JTF teams have conducted 800 hours of work and removed more than 20 tons of debris from the storm.

Alaska Army National Guard helicopters have flown more than 3000 miles and logged more than 33 flight hours moving personnel and supplies across the affected region.

JTF-Alaska will remain activated until it is no longer needed by the state for recovery operations.

• Date Taken: 09.23.2022
• Date Posted: 09.23.2022 20:32
• Story ID: 430024
• Location: JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, US