Welcome to Anchorage!

Welcome to Alaska's most populous city. Anchorage began as a tent city and company town for the Alaska Railroad at the mouth of Ship Creek in 1914. Anchorage covers 1,961 square miles: from Portage Glacier to Eklutna. Today, more than 40% of the state's total population resides in Anchorage. The most recent population estimate was 291,538 people or 170.85 people/sq mile. Anchorage's population is very diverse with the Anchorage School District (ASD) reporting that students speak 99 languages other than English. In fact, 20% of the ASD population is or was in the English Language Learners program.

Shake, Rattle and Roll - Earthquake Preparedness

Alaska is the most seismically active region of the United States. The state experiences over 20,000 earthquakes per year (Source: Alaska Earthquake Information Center).

Before an Earthquake strikes:

Prepare a disaster supply kit - at home, at work, and for your car;
Secure bookcases, file cabinets, pictures, mirrors, etc. to walls. Include hot water heaters and other appliances, which could move and rupture gas or electrical lines;
Know where to locate switches and how to turn off home gas, electricity and water;
Develop a family plan for disasters;
Practice earthquake safety drills;
Be able to take care of yourself and your family for 5 to 7 days after a disaster, before emergency services may be able to reach you;
Know basic first aid;
Know emergency phone numbers;
Know how to open and close an automatic garage door manually.

During an Earthquake

Stay calm and stay where you are; if inside, stay inside; if outside, stay outside;

o   If inside: DROP - COVER – HOLD ON Take cover under a heavy desk or against an inside wall away from glass and falling objects.
o   If outside: Safely move to a clear area, away from buildings, over passes, signs, utility lines and trees. Sit on the ground; do not stand up.
o   On the road: Drive away from underpasses and overpasses. Stop in a safe area. Stay in your vehicle.

After an Earthquake

Be prepared for aftershocks
Listen to the radio for public safety instructions; tune into KFQD 750 AM
Check for injuries and provide first aid
Check for safety hazards: gas or water leaks, sewage breaks, downed power lines, etc. Check for any building damage & evacuate if dangerous.
Properly clean-up spilled medicines, bleaches, and other hazardous materials
Phone lines should be kept as clear as possible for true emergency situations

Snow Loads on Roofs

Occasionally, Anchorage sees above average snows and with that comes concerns about the snow loads on some roofs. The flat roof snow load is 40 psf minimum and the ground snow load is 50 psf.

Buying a Home

Building Safety Service Area (BSSA)

After the 1964 earthquake devasted Anchorage and killed more than 130 people total, Alaska began to adopt building codes. Building to code has been proven to be a factor in minimizing structure damage in an area known for sizeable seismic activity. The Municipality of Anchorage supports building to current codes and standards and any structures built within the Building Safety Service Area (BSSA) are required to conform to all current building codes. This frequently requires planning/zoning assessment, building permits and an inspections process prior to allowing occupancy. Anchorage Building Inspectors enforce building codes inside their jurisdiction. Buying a home inside the BSSA is the best way to assure the home you are buying was built up to current codes at the time of construction. Part of the building permit process inside the BSSA requires a structural plan review by plan review engineers before construction and building inspections after construction before a certificate of occupancy can be issued. During the November 30, 2018, magnitude 7.0 earthquake Structures outside the BSSA tended to suffer from more damage than structures inside the BSSA.

Building Safety Service Area – Building to Code

BSSA Map

http://www.muni.org/Departments/OCPD/development/BSD/Forms/Building_Safety_SA_8x11.pdf

KTUU News Article, Jan 9, 2019, by Jill Burke – Interview with Ross Noffsinger, MOA Acting Building Official

https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Building-Inspectors-Eagle-River-home-substantially-deficient-504144601.html

Municipal Building Safety – Links to Codes, Handouts and Building Permits

http://www.muni.org/Departments/OCPD/development/BSD/Pages/default.aspx

Homebuyer Helpful Links

Property Disclosure Form

Under Alaska Statute (AS) 34.70.010, when purchasing a house in Alaska, there is a state requirement for property disclosures. This form allows the seller to disclose information to the potential buyer concerning the property.

https://alaska-form-disclosure.pdffiller.com/