As we wrapped up the Senate session in late December, I was anxious to leave Washington, D.C., to return home to Anchorage, with a stop in Wrangell, a place I still call home. I wanted to share my condolences, see for myself the damage from the Nov. 20 landslide, and determine what resources I could assist with. I also wanted to thank the community members and assure them that they are not forgotten once the destruction is cleaned up and the road repaired.
Seeing the open scar on the mountain scraped raw by the slide, massive trees littered like kindling on the shore, was to feel the vulnerability of the residents. To hear the anxiety over more rain and whether it threatens the stability of other slopes was unsettling.
The loss of the Heller family is heartbreaking and to lose Otto Florschutz, described as “the best neighbor ever,” is so hard to reconcile. The scar on the mountain will eventually cover over, but the loss to the community will remain and we will talk about the landslide that changed the face of this town.
But the heart of Wrangell remains the same as the place where I lived as a little girl, where people wrapped their collective arms around one another. The amazing search and rescue teams who haven’t given up searching for Derek Heller. Those sifting through the debris hoping to find photographs or family mementos for Christina Florschutz. The notes from Tracey Martin’s class and drawings from the school kids thanking the search and rescue crew, Fire Department and Coast Guard. Shauna, and the many who fed the teams for days. Those who rallied with boats, fuel and groceries for those at the end of the road who had been cut off. All amazing efforts.
What I saw was not a community in crisis, but one operating with firm determination to handle the crisis, from the mayor and borough manager to the EMS teams and to the many volunteers. I saw a community that cares for one another, and is resilient, Wrangell Strong. Thank you all.
There is more work ahead. We must continue monitoring the slope stability and soil conditions, process the paperwork for disaster relief, and we must continue providing resources for mental health for all in the community. Know that Alaska’s congressional delegation will be your partner in all of this. My family and I wish you a healthy and safe New Year.
Lisa Murkowski has represented Alaska in the U.S. Senate since 2002.
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