Alaska's Governor Sean Parnell visited the State Emergency Operations Center on Thursday before going out via helicopter to survey the extent of the flooding damage on Friday.

Governor Parnell traveled throughout the area with the Adjutant General of the Air National Guard, Major General Thomas H. Katkus, looking over the Mat-Su Vallley before touching down in Talkeetna. The director of the State of Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, John Madden also traveled with the Governor.

After surveying the extent of the damage to the area by helicopter, and talking with displaced residents evacuated during the flooding, Parnell made an announcement declaring a state disaster for the Mat-Su, Kenai Bourough and other areas.

“Ensuring the safety of Alaskans is a top priority for the entire administration,” Governor Parnell said. “The flight today is giving me a full understanding of the scope of the event and the impact on the residents of the Mat-Su Valley. Once the waters have subsided, we will immediately begin the damage assessments.”

“While the full extent of the damage remains unknown, it is apparent that the high winds and severe flooding will leave communities in need of state assistance to recover,” said Governor Sean Parnell. “The emergency responders and managers in the local jurisdictions have done a tremendous job addressing the needs of Alaskans. While I had a chance to visit the Mat-Su region today, I recognize many Alaskans across the state have been impacted by the extreme weather.”

The state is providing relief in the form of emergency management personnel and equipment.

The high waters in the area crested and began to recede on Saturday The Mat-Su was plagued by a series of power outages that began on Wednesday from this most recent storm.

Insuring that water is safe to drink is a number one concern in communities such as Seward. The Kenai Peninsula Borough has coordinated with the Department of Environmental Conservation for water testing. That department has issued advisories for residents dwelling near flooded areas to be aware of posible contaminatin of well water by bacteria and microorganisms. They recommend boiling water before using it to drink, cook, and washing. DEC also recommends sanitization of the water system with chlorine and testing.

Seward declared a state of emergency on Wednesday. Landslides have forced road closures in the area.