Alaska Public Media: “It’s been three weeks since a fire destroyed Tuluksak’s only source of drinking water. Since then, the village has been living on donations of bottled water from activists, a gold mining company, and even an Indigenous rapper from the pop-rap group the Black Eyed Peas. Noticeably absent have been a response or supplies from state government. Gov. Dunleavy has yet to declare a state-level disaster to address Tuluksak’s water crisis. In doing so, he holds back up to $1 million in disaster relief funding for the village. State legislators who represent Tuluksak said that say they’re working on the issue. Sen. Lyman Hoffman said he’s is looking at options to pay for the long-term response to the crisis. Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky said that the House can’t do much right now since they’re currently unorganized, and that the governor should declare a state disaster.”

“‘The circumstances in the village of Tuluksak, and its water crisis, is most influenced by the administration, and the executive branch’s ability to move the disaster request forward within its own process,” Zulkosky said. Zulkosky told KYUK she’s contacted Dunleavy’s office multiple times in recent weeks, asking him to declare a disaster and send in the National Guard. When asked if the governor’s office had replied, Zulkosky said, ‘I have not heard a response from the governor’s office on my inquiries related to National Guard support, whether they’ve pursued unspent CARES [Act] funding that have been provided to the state, or anything related to that issue and Tuluksak.’ KYUK also contacted the governor’s office, which put us in touch with the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Spokesperson Jeremy Zidek said the division can provide relief to Tuluksak without a disaster declaration, but it has not sent supplies. Alaskans and activists across the state are wondering what’s stopping the state from sending drinking water if it’s already in their capacity to do so.”