The borough assembly has unanimously approved a resolution that “expresses Wrangell’s readiness to serve as a host community” for people displaced by the violent storm that heavily damaged several coastal villages in Western Alaska last month.

“The borough and its partners have determined that Wrangell has the potential capacity to host approximately 10 to 25 displaced families through available bunkhouse facilities, housing options, school capacity and local support services,” says the resolution, which the assembly adopted Oct. 28.

“No community knows what a disaster is more than us,” Borough Manager Mason Villarma told the assembly, referring to the November 2023 landslide that killed six people in their homes near 11.2-Mile.

State officials estimate more than 1,500 people were displaced by the Oct. 12 storm which flooded villages, ruined homes, cut off power and other services in the rural communities. There is one confirmed death, with two people still missing after the remnants of a typhoon blew through the area.

Hundreds of people were living in temporary housing last week, mostly in Anchorage. The state had received almost 1,200 applications for individual financial assistance.

“I do think we have the capacity to help out some,” Villarma told the assembly. “We’ll try to keep it somewhat modest.”

The manager explained that he and all the major employers in the borough meet monthly to discuss community issues — and they had an emergency meeting after the disaster in Western Alaska to talk about helping families in need.

“We don’t want to take on too much,” he said. “There is no commitment at this point.”

In addition to Anchorage, other communities around the state have stepped in to offer temporary assistance for displaced families until their homes can be repaired.

Assembly Member Dan Powers asked how likely it would be that some of the families might move to Wrangell.

“I think it’s likely we’ll see a few families,” Villarma said. “I think it is important to step up.”

The resolution authorizes the borough manager to coordinate with state and federal agencies “to identify housing, education and workforce support for any displaced families temporarily resettled in Wrangell.”

The resolution says City Hall worked with the school district, SEARHC, Trident Seafoods, the U.S. Forest Service, Wrangell Cooperative Association and others to pull together the community’s offer of assistance.

The school district has room for additional students, and Trident Seafoods’ employee bunkhouse has room available during the off-season months.

The borough and its partners, however, would need financial assistance to cover the costs of taking in displaced families, Villarma said.

“If Trident is expected to open the bunkhouse for eight or nine months, we don’t expect them to front the bill for utilities.”

The school district also would want to ensure that any additional students are factored into its per-pupil annual funding from the state, the manager said.

An estimated 100 students enrolled in Bethel, which serves as the regional hub of Western Alaska. State officials estimate 140 students had enrolled in the Anchorage School District as of late October, according to reporting in the Alaska Beacon.

Students have also enrolled in smaller numbers in other schools across the state, including in the Nenana and Fairbanks areas, the Kenai Peninsula and Matanuska-Susitna Valley Borough. Several students enrolled in the state-operated boarding school at Mt. Edgecumbe.