Palin skips events due to flooding

WASHINGTON, May 8 (UPI) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has canceled plans to attend the White House Correspondents' dinner in Washington because of record flooding at home, aides say.

Palin declared a state of emergency due to the flooding situation in Eagle, Alaska.

"It's basically wiped out a town," Bill McAllister, Palin's communications director, told CNN.

McAllister confirmed Palin will stay in Alaska this weekend.

Palin was slated to be a guest of Fox News at the annual dinner.

The former Republican vice presidential candidate also pulled out of co-hosting a Friday night dinner for the Republican Governors Association with South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.