Responding Rebuilding Restoring

Alaska

This winter the northeast Alaska experienced heavier than usual snow and ice accumulations. When temperatures jumped 30 to 40 degrees in a short period of time, a massive spring melt was created. In Eagle and other areas along a 3,000 mile stretch of the Yukon River, water with six feet thick ice chunks crushed cars, trees and moved houses up to a half mile off their foundations.

Eagle is a remote Native American community with residents who primarily survive by subsistence living. Flooding and ice destroyed many homes.

Stevens Village is located on the north bank of the Yukon River, 17 miles upstream of the Dalton Highway bridge crossing and 90 air miles northwest of Fairbanks. Homes in Stevens Village were damaged from flood waters. 

Akiak is located on the Kuskokwim River, 300 miles west of Anchorage. Ice jams and snow melt combined to flood the village. 

MDS Response

In Eagle, FEMA has asked MDS to help construct log homes between July 13 and Sept. 12, 2009. These homes are very basic log home kits produced in Alaska and shipped to Eagle.

In Stevens Village MDS will help repair 11 homes during the three week time period. Gutting and drying out has already been accomplished for the most part. The biggest need is insulating and floor repair, although new floor joists may also be required.

In Akiak MDS will rebuild one log home and repair two others. Volunteers will be in Akiak for a few weeks.

Photo Gallery

building-the-foundation

Starting a foundation in Eagle, Alaska.

Foundation-1

Working on the first foundation in Eagle Village, Alaska.

P1000864

Homes damaged by floods and ice in Eagle, Alaska.

MDS-Eagle-072

Adding the arctic entry to a house in Eagle, Alaska.

The-T s-house-next-to-the-Y

The T's house next to the Yukon River.

P1000798

Log home in Eagle, Alaska. MDS will be building 13 similar homes in the area.

boat

Residents and MDS Volunteers go out in the Yukon River to work on the fishweheel.

building the cabin in Akiak

Building the cabin in Akiak.

fishwheel

Building the fishwheel.

homes-pushed-up-against-ban

Homes pushed off their foundations by the ice and flood waters.

home-in-back--is-behind-it

Home in background was pushed off it's foundation.

pier-system-for-foundation

Pier system for foundations at Alaska project.

Damaged-cabins

Homes damaged by floods and ice in Eagle, Alaska.

Damaged-homes

Damaged homes in Eagle, Alaska.

Island-without-trees-after-

Aerial view of Eagle, Alaska. The island was stripped of trees by the floods and ice.

mds-log-cabin

Log cabin in Eagle, Alaska.

Inside upstairs Akiak cabin

Inside, upstairs in the Akiak cabin.

The-dovetail-work

Well crafted dovetail work on the log cabin in Eagle, Alaska.

framing-the-first-Eagle-hou

Framing the first house in Eagle, AK.

house-2-is-coming-along

House number two is progressing.

Lancaster -AK-group-003

The Lancaster County group heads to Alaska.

house-near-completing

This house is nearing completion.

house-six

House six is ready for the roof.

owners-of-house-1-and-2-ins

The owners of houses one and two inside one of the houses.

waiting-for-logs-to-arrive

Waiting for the rest of the logs to arrive.

the-walls-go-up-on-house-si

The walls go up on house six.

MDS-fish-wheel

MDS volunteers helped with this fish wheel.

launching-the-fish-wheel

Setting up the fish wheel.

the-last-wall-is-up

Putting up the log cabins.

Bill-McCoy-at-orientation

Bill McCoy at orientation for the second Alaska group.

Richard-using-the-sander 01

Richard using the hand sander on the logs.

moving-the-logs

Moving the logs.

The-MDS-house-in-Eagle

The cabin where many MDS volunteers are housed in Eagle, Alaska.

Two-story-house-4

Working on the roof of the two story house.

Stan-using-log-wizard-with-

Stan using the log wizard to shape logs in Eagle, Alaska.

Two-story-house-1

Inside of the two story house.

Two-story-house-3

Framing is complete for this two story log cabin at the project in Eagle, Alaska.

Gary-and-Ron-setting-a-log

Volunteers Gary and Ron setting a log at the Eagle, Alaska project.

The-MDS-bus-in-Alaska

The MDS bus in Eagle, Alaska.

moving-the-logs 01

These logs are sanded and ready to add to the house.

waiting-for-logs-to-arrive 01

Waiting for the rest of the logs to arrive.

Two-story-house-2

Inside view of the two story house.

Stan-with-log-wizard

Stan with the log wizard.

using-the-log-wizard

Shaping the logs with the log wizard.

MDS-Eagle-2-233

Tarping a roof in Eagle, AK.

Calvin-with-hand-planer

Calvin uses the hand planer to finish the log at the MDS project in Eagle, Alaska.

Building-the-shower-tent

A shower tent is under construction at the MDS camp. Samaritan's Purse is constructing the tent.

using-the-saw

Work at the Eagle project is moving quickly.

Homeowner-Gary-and-Foreman-

Homeowner Gary and MDS foreman Nevin at a job site in Eagle.

Ted-Houser-working-in-Alask

MDS volunteer Ted Houser works at the project in Eagle, Alaska.

roofing-the-house

Roofing a cabin in Eagle, Alaska.

salvaging-from-a-destroyed-

Salvaging personal belongings from a destroyed home.

Cutting-the-logs

Cutting the logs for a cabin.

Singing-around-the-campfire

Singing around the campfire in the evening in Eagle, Alaska.

Jordan-and-Mike-cut-logs

Jordan and Mike cut the logs for the cabin.

Going-over-the-plans

Reviewing the plans for a log cabin in Eagle, Alaska.

Working-on-the-walls

The walls go up.

Gary-and-a-resident-of-Eagl

Gary and a resident of Eagle.

Andy-and-Calvin

Andy and Calvin work on salvaging lumber from a destroyed cabin.

conference

Jerry, Wilbur, Ron and Ted go over the plans for the day.

second-group-in-Eagle

The second group of MDS volunteers in front of the MDS house in Eagle, Alaska.

Working-on-the-roof

Working on the roof.

Eli-and-Calvin

Volunteers Eli and Calvin in Eagle, Alaska.

Jake-sawing

Jake working at the project in Eagle.

The-MDS-truck-in-Eagle

The MDS pickup in Eagle.

Working-in-Eagle

Working at the project in Eagle.

Ted-and-Ron-in-the-New-Vill

Ted and Ron in the New Village.

Wilbur Jerry-and-Mary

Wilbur, Jerry and Mary discuss work plans.

Ted-baking-bread-on-a-stick

Ted baking bread on a stick over the fire in the evening.

MDS-Eagle-082

Working on a two-story house in Eagle.

MDS-Eagle-079

Work in the trusses on the two-story house.

MDS-Eagle-075

One of the two-story log cabins in Eagle, Alaska.

MDS-Eagle-080

Working on the roof of the two-story cabin.

setting logs week 3

Setting logs during week four of the Alaska project.

mds worksite

MDS worksite in Eagle.

Setting logs photo by T.Houser

Securing the logs. -photo by Ted Houser

Sanding - photo by T Houser

Sanding the logs for the log homes in Eagle, Alaska. - photo by Ted Houser

Image-2-Courtesy-of-FEMA

Working in Stevens Village, Alaska.

Image-5-courtesy-of-FEMA

Finish work inside a home in Stevens Village, Alaska.

Image-6-courtesy-of-FEMA

Insulating underneath a home in Stevens Village, Alaska. -photo courtesy of FEMA

Image-4-Courtesy-of-FEMA

Finish work inside a home in Stevens Village, Alaska. -photo courtesy of FEMA

Stevens-group--courtesy-of-

Stevens Village volunteer group. -photo courtesy of FEMA

Image-7-courtesy-of-FEMA

Repair work inside a home in Stevens Village, Alaska. -photo courtesy of FEMA

Image-1-courtesy-of-FEMA

Stevens Village, Alaska. -photo courtesy of FEMA

Image-3-courtesy-of-FEMA

Working inside a damaged home in Stevens Village, Alaska. -photo courtesy of FEMA

Upstairs of Roy and Joys cabin

Upstairs of Akiak cabin.

Roy and Joy in Akiak cabin at dedication

Roy and Joy at the dedication of their cabin in Akiak, AK.

Roy and Joy in front of completed cabin

Roy and Joy pose in front of their new cabin in Akiak, AK.

view of completed Akiak cabin

The completed two-story cabin in Akiak, AK.

downstairs inside Akiak cabin

Inside, downstairs in the Akiak cabin.

Roofing cabin in Akiak

Working on the roof in Akiak.

Project Reports

Weekly Report from Eagle

October 12, 2009

It's sure good to be back home with our families. We came back on schedule, which was Tuesday evening. We had a good trip and got some of the more difficult projects completed. We got the sauna in place and set up which is a very...

Category: Eagle, AK


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Map/Directions

Project statistics

Mennonite Disaster Service

General Delivery

Eagle, Alaska 99738

Phone: (907)-547-3101

Project Start Date: July 13, 2009

Volunteer Status: Project is full

Eagle Volunteers: 77

Eagle Jobs Started: 27

Eagle Jobs Completed: 27

Eagle Project is Closed.

Project End Date: September 12, 2009

Stevens Volunteers: 15

Stevens Jobs Started: 11

Stevens Jobs Complete: 11

Stevens project closed.

Akiak Volunteers: 10

Akiak Jobs Started: 3

Akiak Jobs Complete: 3

Akiak Project Closed.

Volunteer Information: Please download and read the files listed below if you are planning and preparing to volunteer.

Eagle, Alaska Volunteer Information

Current Situation
20 Nov 2009


cloudy
-6°F
Sunrise 9:15 am
Sunset 3:03 pm

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