Alaskan town threatened by climate change gets federal funding for relocation

By Elisa Jimenez Alonso

Newtok, a small Alaskan village on the shores of the Ningliq River, has been fighting erosion exacerbated by climate change for decades. Now, they have secured $15 million to begin relocating houses to higher ground.

The people of Newtok have been trying to relocate since 1994 with little to no success. In recent years, the effects of climate change have made the village’s situation increasingly urgent and dire. Currently, the river is creeping 70 feet closer every year.

In its efforts to secure funding, Newtok’s main problem was that no federal agency seemed to be responsible for the somewhat unusual predicament creating a barrier to access funding. From federal disaster relief funds to the Department of Housing and Development – no one seemed to cover the particular needs of Newtok.

Earlier this year, the Alaska Denali Commission, an independent federal agency designed to provide critical utilities, infrastructure and economic support throughout Alaska, saw its fairly tiny budget doubled to $30 million as part of the $1.3 trillion spending bill signed in late March.

Half of the allocated budget will be spent on Newtok’s relocation. However, $15 million only cover a fraction of the necessary funds. In a 2006 report, the US Army Corps of Engineers calculated Newtok would need between $80-130 million to relocate and had about 10-15 years left to do so.

Twelve years later, the allocated budget is at least a start and the Denali Commission is ready to get to work. They want to have “as many occupiable housing units as possible in place by October 1, 2019.”

A further smaller grant of $1.7 million was also announced; it is funded by both the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The grant comes as part of FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program which is reserved for “traditional” disasters but the urgency of Newtok’s situation made it necessary to provide funds.