President Biden approves Major Disaster Declaration for western Alaska

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Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 11:50 AM

By Jasz Garrett

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Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Alaska to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the historic storm.

Typhoon Merbok's disaster effects have left people searching for shelter and seeking help from federal funding.

The severe storm caused flooding and landslides from September 15th to September 20th.

The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the Regional Educational Attendance Areas of Bering Strait, Kashunamiut, Lower Kuskokwim, and Lower Yukon.

Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures in the Regional Educational Attendance Areas of Bering Strait, Kashunamiut, Lower Kuskokwim, and Lower Yukon.

Furthermore, federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

This assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance.

They can visit www.disasterassistance.gov, call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or use the FEMA App.

Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service, or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.

Timothy Manner has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

Additional designations may be made at a later date.

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