A group of Alaskans recently collaborated to develop new plans to protect the Copper River Delta and Flats region from an oil spill. These plans, called geographic response strategies, or GRS, are map-based plans tailored to specific areas that are particularly sensitive to oil pollution. By pre-identifying these areas and planning protection strategies before a … Read more
When the Exxon Valdez ran aground in 1989, oil spill cleanup equipment was not ready to go. Some of it was buried in snow, other equipment was not operating. The first three days after the spill, the weather was calm, but responders could do little without equipment. Today, Alyeska’s Ship Escort Response Vessel System and … Read more
The Council held walking tours for locals to learn about the annual oil spill response training for fishing vessels in Kodiak, Alaska, on April 6 and 7, 2026. This has been a regular event since 2016, rotating through communities in the Exxon Valdez oil spill region. The Kodiak community was invited to join the Council … Read more
One of the Council’s most popular and longest-running projects just got an upgrade to audiobook format. Why listening is important after a disaster Human-caused disasters, such as oil spills, affect communities differently than natural disasters, such as earthquakes. After the Exxon Valdez oil spill, many Alaskans suffered devastating mental health effects that lingered for years. … Read more