All Podcast

Dec 21, 2023

VALDEZ - One hundred and sixty five inches of snow has fallen in Valdez. KVAK's Laurie Prax talked with City of Valdez Public Works Director John Witte and Assistant City Manager Nate Duvall about how the City of Valdez is handling the heavy snow. Witte explains how the City moves snow and how residents can help. Duvall explains how "Snowload" is measured and talks about how to assess whether or not a roof should be shoveled. The City is currently hiring snow shovel crews as the snowload has hit 60 pounds on some City structures.

KVAK's Laurie Prax talked with the Foreman of the Thompson Pass DOT station, Edward Matson, following the road closure caused by natural avalanches on the Richardson Highway. Matson tells us what it was like for loader and equipment operators clearing avalanches in Thompson Pass. 294 inches of snow have already fallen in Thompson Pass and Matson said during the storm 51-inches of snow fell in a 48 hour period. Matson said the crew cleared huge trees that toppled onto the roadway during the storm. Matson counted 76 rings on one of the tree trunks.