A fuel shortage has prompted the village of Karluk to request it be declared a disaster area.

Karleton Short, Kodiak Island Borough finance director and acting borough manager while Rick Gifford is out of town, said he was contacted by a village representative and an individual from the Alaska State Department of Homeland Security, Thursday, regarding Karluk’s situation.

“Karluk is in dire need of fuel,” said George Coyle, emergency management specialist for the State Department of Homeland Security. Other rural communities are facing similar situations.

However, Coyle said Homeland Security is a last resort and Karluk must exhaust other avenues for assistance, starting with the borough.

Short was informed the village had been out of heating fuel for some time and had only two days worth of fuel left for the generator. Without fuel for the generator, the village would be without electricity.

Coyle and Claude Denver, response unit leader with the State Department of Homeland Security, said barge deliveries of fuel have been delayed because of weather.

Short said it would be three to four weeks minimum before a barge could deliver fuel.

Fuel has been flown in, but only a minimal amount can be delivered on each trip.

Short said there has been some discussion with the school district regarding possible aid, as Karluk school typically has some extra fuel on site.

Short said there is little more the borough can do, though it is watching the situation.

Calls to the Karluk Tribal Council Office were not returned as of press time.

Mirror writer Misty Maynard can be reached via e-mail at mmaynard@kodiakdailymirror.com.