ANCHORAGE, Alaska - April 17, 2008 -- In der Nähe von Juneau, der Hauptstadt Alaskas, im Südosten des Bundesstaates am Pazifik wurde eine Hochspannungsleitung von einer riesigen Lawine schwer beschädigt. Lawinen und Schneebretter sind durch die extreme Windverfrachtung vielerorts ein großes Problem.
Spring snowstorms and high winds are causing many problems across the state of Alaska and avalanche danger remains very high.
Vermisster mit Jayhawk-Hubschrauber geortet
A period of warm weather prompted many motorists to removed studded tires early this year. Subsequent snow storms and extremely icy conditions have left many vehicles on the side of the road or involved in collisions. Over the weekend 32 year-old Benjamin Nelson, of Hoonah, was killed while riding his snow machine in the vicinity of Harbor Mountain Northeast of Sitka in Southeastern Alaska.
Nelson originally went out with a group of friends but then broke away from the pack and went off on his own -- a deadly decision. When Nelson did not return hours later his friend's contacted the Sitka Mountain Rescue (SMR). The division did some initial searches for Nelson without results. They called the U.S. Coast Guard to provide air support.
A Coast Guard HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and crew from Air Station Sitka with several SMR personnel embarked continued the search for Nelson into the evening. They did sight one set of tracks leading into an avalanche zone that had been freshly triggered. An additional search the following day by SMR members located Nelson's body and his overturned snow machine about five miles (8 kilometers) from the original search area. The incident does not appear to be avalanche related. Officials have not determined the cause of Nelson's death.
Stromleitungen bei Juneau zerstört
In Juneau a massive avalanche Wednesday has damaged transmission lines from the Snettisham Power House, about 40 miles (64.37 kilometers) south of town. The avalanche hit just before four a.m. It was located about three miles (4.8 kilometers) from the power station and is reported to be a mile and a half (2.4 kilometers) across. The city will resort to running on diesel until the hydroelectric power can be restored. This change is likely to triple or quadruple many homeowners’ bills next month. AEL&P officials estimate it will take about 100,000 gallons (378,541.18 liters) of fuel a day to fully feed the town's electrical requirements on diesel with a possible cost of $375,000 to $400,000 (236,142.27 to 251,887.42 Euro) a day just for the fuel.
"All of a sudden, we'll have rates that look like rural communities across the state," said Gayle Wood, director of consumer affairs at Juneau's power utility, Alaska Electric Light & Power Co. A second avalanche knocked out additional towers. It may be many months before the hydroelectric utility can be restored. Residential electricity could rise as much as 50 cents per kilowatt-hour (.31 Euro) or higher from a current average of 11 cents per kilowatt-hour (.07 Euro).
Alaska regulations allow utilities to pass on the cost of power to its consumers in what's known as a cost-of-power adjustment, or COPA. Utility companies must file COPA requests with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho said he was working on instructions to city staff on how to use less energy and on tips for the city website to help individuals and businesses.
The Taku Range of the Coast Mountains is very steep and prone to avalanches. The range was carved by glaciers. Scientists believe the area was once covered by an ice sheet similar to Greenland during the Pleistocene Epoch.
Tote bei Hubschrauber-Absturz
Stormy conditions Tuesday night downed a helicopter near Palmer north of Anchorage. Palmer is located at the foot of the majestic Chugach Mountains in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. A 14 year-old Palmer boy, Quinn Ellington, was the only survivor of the crash. He spent the night in the wreckage and was found by Air National Guard pararescuemen Wednesday. They flew the boy to a Palmer hospital to be treated for minor injuries.
The other four men, including the pilot, were killed -- Era Helicopters pilot Benoit Pin, 39, of Anchorage, and passengers Thomas E. Middleton, 46, of Anchorage, Joseph C. O'Donnell, 47, of Girdwood and Michael D. Seward, 37, of Palmer. The three passengers, employees of the Department of Administration's Enterprise Technology Systems, were being ferried to a state telecommunications tower when the helicopter crashed near Sheep Mountain. They were en route to do maintenance on towers at Lion's Head and at Tahneta Pass, according to state officials.
"They basically do everything from changing the lights to adjusting the towers to making sure the frequencies are correct," said public employees' union business manager Jim Ashton. The helicopter went down a mile southeast of the Glenn Highway at Mile 119, said Jim LaBelle of the National Transportation Safety Board. Officials did not have any answers as to why a juvenile, who was not employed by the DAETS, was onboard. It appears the boy was accompanying his stepfather, Seward.
Große Probleme für Schifffahrt
On another front the weather has delayed shipping. The Tug Polar Viking made a call to Coast Guard Sector Anchorage over VHF radio to report that due to a 90 knot wind gust they were being pushed astern 14 nautical miles (25.9 kilometers) northwest of Raspberry Island in Shelikof Strait. The Polar Viking was towing one 380-foot (115.8 meters) barge with general dangerous cargo on board and another 230-foot (70.104 meters) barge with empty containers. The master of the vessel maintained a 30-minute communications schedule until he was able to make way again at 2.5 knots and communications were then pushed to every four hours.
This is standard practice among operators in Alaska. It has proved to be beneficial to notify the Coast Guard when a situation is deteriorating rather than waiting until it has gone completely bad. This allows the Coast Guard to plan and pre-stage assets to respond.
Around 8 a.m. on April 17, the weather improved allowing the Polar Viking to get underway and proceed to Dutch Harbor.
In the midst of this temperamental weather system the Coast Guard successfully completed the long-range medical evacuation of a 51 year-old crewman from the cargo ship Rainbow Wing. When contacted the vessel was 600 nautical miles (1,111.2 kilometers) south of Adak Island in the Pacific Ocean. The vessel was directed to make best speed toward shore to close distance between the patient and responders.
When the 623-foot (190 meter) vessel was 100 nautical miles (185.2 kilometers) offshore the helicopter crew successfully hoisted the patient from the deck of the ship and transported him to Guardian commercial medevac services in Adak for further transport to Anchorage.
Viele Bergrettungseinsätze für Sportler
Regardless of the weather the people of Alaska do not stop working or playing. Unfortunately there have been casualties recently. There continues to be a need for rescuers, be they National Guard, Coast Guard, civilian, mountain rescue or another group. These individuals are vital and people continue to heed the call to help others.
Links:
Alaska Coast Guard News - www.uscgalaska.com
Alaska Electric Light and Power - http://www.aelp.com/
Dept. of Admin. Enterprise Technology Systems - http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/ADMIN/info/
Taku Range and Coast Mountains Science - www.jstor.org/pss/985681
Sara`s Northern Collection
