Protecting Residents Through Emergency Preparedness

At Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, employees are mission-focused on providing Alaskans access to safe, quality, affordable housing. In the Facilities Management department this includes thinking ahead and ensuring preventative measures are in place to keep public housing residents safe during extreme weather.

In 2024, backup generators were installed at Chugach View and Chugach Manor, two public housing properties in Anchorage that provide affordable housing for seniors and residents with disabilities. With some residents in need of medical devices or mobility aids, facilities management employees knew that prolonged power loss was not just an inconvenience but also a potential hazard.

When hurricane-force winds hit Anchorage in January 2025, the properties were ready.

Across Anchorage, 17,500 residents were without power at the height of the outage, according to reporting by Alaska Public Media.

Mike, AHFC Construction Coordinator Lead, reported that Chugach View and Chugach Manor lost power only briefly during the January storms – about a six second outage. With such a short power outage the backup generators weren’t put to use (there is about a 15 second pause before the backup generators kick in during an outage) but after a year on a monthly testing schedule, Mike said he felt a sense of relief during the wind storm knowing that the generators would help keep residents safe if needed.

“The fact that I didn’t hear anything from the properties was a blessing,” Mike said.

Continued monthly testing, a three-day load calculation test and ongoing work with the Municipality of Anchorage are all in process to help ensure that the backup generators can be relied on during the next outage.

“It’s a preventative measure but in some cases also a medical necessity,” Mike said. “We never want our senior community to be without the comfort of power. My hope is that AHFC properties can be a beacon of light in a storm.”

While backup generators aren’t an affordable option for every household, Mike said that this backup measure can be important, especially for individuals who require access to medical devices. “Proper installation is essential,” he said. “But when done correctly, backup generators can be a great asset to homeowners.”

Personally, Mike said that the wind storms served as a reminder of the importance of regular property maintenance – keeping your home and loved ones safe by securing items that could be blown around, ensuring proper drainage away from your home, cleaning gutters regularly and having an emergency kit ready to go.

Looking ahead, Mike said that projects at Chugach View and Chugach Manor are focused on exactly these sort of routine maintenance practices that are essential to a safe, healthy property, with staff continually working behind the scenes to ensure that AHFC-Owned properties are comfortable homes for residents.

Safety Resources

• Wondering if a backup generator is right for your home or business? Find information from Chugach Electric.
• Chugach Electric also provides tips to prepare your household for a power outage and stay safe during an outage. Learn More about outage preparation and safety.
• Need advice for building an emergency kit, preparing your home for winter, or navigating severe weather? Visit ready.gov for safety tips. 
• Read more on the AHFC blog about preparing your home for winter and protecting your home from flooding on the AHFC blog.

---

AHFC operates 241 units of affordable housing at Chugach View and Chugach Manor. Learn more about public housing properties across Alaska.