Pablo Arauz Peña, KTOO

In this newscast:

• Alaska State Troopers are suspending the search for two Haines residents who went missing after a massive landslide destroyed their home.
• More wet weather is in the cards across Southeast Alaska this week as the region struggles with record rainfall that brought destructive landslides and some flooding.
• Beginning Tuesday, qualified Juneau residents who have been financially hurt by the pandemic can apply for $1,000 or more in new grants.
• Thanks to an outpouring of community support, Haines resident Lin Edgar can finally sleep in her own home after her house flooded in the storm.
• Anchorage acting mayor Austin-Quinn Davidson is isolating at home after testing positive for COVID-19.

In this newscast:

• The recovery effort in Haines continues after heavy flooding and mudslides this week.
• Heavy precipitation, mudslides and flooding have damaged infrastructure across the Haines Borough over the past week.
• Most property in Southeast Alaska probably isn’t insured against flood and slide damage from this week’s storm.
• The very first COVID-19 vaccine doses may arrive in Alaska before the month is out. But there will be very little of it, and logistics to distribute it are not easy.

In this newscast:

• Two Haines residents in their 20s and 30s are still missing following Wednesday’s massive slide brought by heavy storms.
• Community organizations in Juneau are asking for help with the emergency response in Haines.
• The Sitka School Board will consider acknowledging Tlingit lands when it formally opens its meetings.
• There will be a recount in the Anchorage House race in which Democrat Liz Snyder defeated Republican Rep. Lance Pruit by 13 votes.

Community organizations in Juneau are asking for help with the emergency response in Haines after a storm left much of the town damaged and residents displaced. Two people are still missing after a landslide destroyed four houses.

“We know around 56 people are seeking immediate services due to ordered evacuation or stranded travelers that need to get  to their homes or to their next destination,” said Genevieve Wojtusik with the Red Cross of Southeast Alaska. She says there are currently three volunteers on the ground to provide immediate assistance and more on the way.

Jason Wilson is the incident commander for the Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. He says the fastest way to help is to donate on the council’s website.

There’s also a supply drop-off location at the Bonnell Building in Juneau at 5750 Concrete Way.

“Tlingit and Haida has looked at the resources that we have on hand with trying to assist the community and those people that have been displaced with shelters, as well as bedding. We’re looking at food, water,” said Wilson.

Haines is a community of about 2,000 people. Just one road runs in and out of it and the border with Canada is currently closed. Emergency supplies must come in by boat or plane.

Wilson says the council is delivering supplies to Haines by boat today to serve those immediate needs.

“Maybe second, or third wave would include some sort of food drive, as well as maybe some sort of clothes, jackets, you know, clothing material,” he said.

The council also has a field operator on the ground to help assess the situation. Wilson says he doesn’t know of any tribal citizens who are directly impacted, but the council will help anyone affected.

It’s expected to continue raining there for the next week.

In this newscast:

• High winds, flooding and landslides caused at least one injury and damaged several homes in communities across Southeast Alaska today, as an atmospheric river stalled over the region and brought record-breaking rain.
• There are six people missing and houses in the water after a large landslide crashed into a residential area in Haines Wednesday afternoon.
• A group of Alaskans has filed a lawsuit seeking to block the recently passed Ballot Measure 2, the elections overhaul initiative.

In this newscast:

• The National Weather Service says there will still be strong winds gusting late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.
• The City and Borough of Juneau announced this afternoon that it’s offering free COVID-19 tests to people who may have been exposed but don’t have symptoms.
• After a season of cancelled cruise ships and low visitation, retailers in Sitka are turning to holiday sales from local customers to help them make it through the winter.
• A final federal rule designating critical habitats for some populations of humpback whales in the Pacific Ocean is due by Jan. 15.
• Alaska’s election results became official yesterday.
• Congressman Don Young is back at work in his Washington office.