DESPERATION: $20 A Gallon Gas, Winter Fuel Shortages & More Can Lead To Catastrophe In Bush Alaska

THE COPPER RIVER COUNTRY JOURNAL 

Apocalyptic Ramifications Of Iran War On Alaska 

A 2005 barge in Nenana, preparing to haul winter propane tanks to Bush Alaska on the rivers.
(Photo by Copper River Country Journal, archives)

A shocking story on KTUU on April 24th, 2026 spoke of the possibility that Western Alaska bush communities may be without fuel this upcoming winter in the wake of the closing of the Hormuz Strait and destruction of oil tankers and facilities by the United States in the Middle East. The story used the words "apocalyptic" to describe what could very well happen in the many villages across Western Alaska.

Bombings, blockades and general uncertainty has led to chaos across the planet. The worst-impacted places began to report, weeks ago, on the hardships of nations that depended on blockaded Middle Eastern oil. 

For over a month, other countries have been struggling with fuel shortages. Their comparatively worse  situation has hardly been noticed in the United States, which has mainly fretted over higher gas prices. 

Yet nations across the earth have felt far worse ramifications than the average American. They've had to ration fuel, stop air flights, and run their schools and businesses on shortened weeks. Even Europe says it's about to run out of jet fuel in a little over a month. 

Alaska shares the problems of undeveloped countries, even though it is part of the United States. And, at this time,  Western Alaska in particular is in the forefront of severe and even dangerous ramifications from the war against Iran, including a lack of basic heating and transportation fuel that could lead to freezing, and – incredibly – possible starvation. 

Western Alaska, without access to the road system, is, in many ways, a part of the developing world. And Alaska itself, which only produces 5% of its food, and is not connected to the rest of America, is hardly self sufficient, lying in one of the coldest parts of the planet, where winter is default mode. 

For much of America, the war against Iran is still mainly a nagging nuisance, bringing $4 a gallon average oil prices (which, in Alaska, never sounds that bad, actually). And then there are those higher grocery bills, where instead of paying $150 like a year ago, you're now running $235. 

Yet, there are the occasional stories, reported on national TV, about American farmers who can't buy their fertilizer, which would mean, when fall and winter comes, that Americans will be without basic foods – or have to pay huge sums for ordinary meat, dairy and produce. 

Full propane tanks, labeled by river village and recipient's name, on the docks at Nenana.
(Photo by Copper River Country Journal, 2005, from the archives) 

Of course, Bush Alaska is far more isolated than anywhere else in Alaska, or America. The Bush  already pays much more for food and fuel and transportation than other Americans. But now, the Bush's immediate situation in the wake of the Iran War is far worse. The report on KTUU was not hopeful. 

When the House Energy Committee met in Juneau April 23rd to try to gauge how bad it might become, their  conclusion, as reported by KTUU: "Apocalyptic" 

 KTUU reported on the grim inability of the committee to come up with any kind of encouraging word: "No one in the committee or presenting to it could say with certainty that Western Alaska communities would have fuel this winter," reported KTUU's Wil Courtney. 

Fuel is either barged or flown into the Bush. Apparently there is a very real concern that "at any price, you might not be able to get the supplies that we have previously been able to tap into," Senator Lisa Murkowski is quoted as saying. 

Representative Nellie Jimmie of Toksook Bay, is reported by KTUU to have said: "It's like walking in the fog. You can't see what's going to happen." 

READ THE KTUU STORY ABOUT APOCALYPTIC FUEL SHORTAGES. CLICK HERE