North Slope Borough declares emergency for Anaktuvuk Pass fuel disruption

The North Slope Borough posted a Declaration of Emergency for Anaktuvuk Pass on January 10, 2026, declaring the emergency effective January 9, 2026 in response to a fuel-supply disruption. The declaration formalizes the borough’s emergency response actions and authorizes coordination with village leadership, state and federal partners, and service providers to protect public health and safety.

The move follows a public safety advisory issued January 7 and is tied to ongoing response efforts to stabilize fuel availability in the village. By adopting the declaration the borough has established a legal and operational framework for requests and resource-sharing with outside agencies and for accelerating logistics, permitting, and communication needed to address shortages in a remote winter environment.

For residents of Anaktuvuk Pass, the practical implications are immediate. Fuel supplies are central to home heating, electric generation backup, snowmachine travel, and subsistence activities during the cold season. The declaration enables the borough and partners to prioritize emergency shipments, coordinate refueling operations, and marshal state and federal resources where needed. It also clarifies channels for village leadership to request assistance and for service providers to act under borough authority.

The borough’s news entry reiterates contact pathways and directs residents to village officials for the most immediate operational information. Community members should continue to follow local advisories and check the North Slope Borough news feed at north-slope.org/news for updates and instructions about deliveries, sheltering, or changes to critical services. Local coordination will determine timing and method of any fuel resupply, which in this region can depend on weather, runway or landing conditions, and availability of carriers.

This emergency declaration is a legal mechanism as much as a logistics tool. It signals to state and federal partners that Anaktuvuk Pass faces an acute infrastructure risk and that the borough is requesting all available coordination to prevent impacts to health and safety. For a small, remote village, clearing administrative hurdles can shave crucial time off response windows when weather windows are tight.

The takeaway? Check your household fuel reserves, keep in touch with village leadership, and avoid nonessential fuel use until resupply is confirmed. Our two cents? Treat fuel like your most precious winter supply and lean on local officials for real-time guidance so the whole community weathers this with minimal disruption.