FEMA so far has given nearly $1 million to 69 Alaska households hammered by this spring's historic flooding along the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers, and this week added more towns and villages to the list of communities eligible for money.
The town of Eagle, just west of the Canadian border, was one of the hardest-hit when the Yukon flooding began in late April and early May.
"FEMA leadership came to Eagle today and met with all of the 13 homeowners that are in need of having a new home built and gave the go ahead on funding and settling personal claims," Andy Bassich, coordinator of the Eagle Rebuilding Construction Team, wrote in an e-mail Wednesday night.
At the state's request, President Obama declared the flooding a federal disaster on June 11. But the early declaration didn't include some of the communities hit by the later rounds of flooding as the break-up fronts moved down the rivers.
On Wednesday, FEMA added Lower Yukon communities such as Emmonak, Russian Mission and Kotlik to the list of places where people can apply for federal money to repair damage to their homes or replace items lost in the flood, according to the state.
Regions that had already been eligible for federal flood money included the Alaska Gateway, Kuspuk, Yukon Flats and Yukon-Koyuk regional education attendance areas.
STATE AID TOO
In some regions, federal money isn't available, but people can apply for state assistance instead, said Jeremy Zidek, spokesman for the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
The state caps assistance at $5,000 per household, while the feds give up to $30,300 per family.
"There are going to be some people here in Alaska who will get that (maximum amount) because their home is so badly damaged that it's going to take at least that much money to repair it," said FEMA spokesman Cleo Howell.
As of this week, the agency was working its way through the first round of 240 applications and had approved nearly 70 so far, Howell said.
"Most people who do apply receive some sort of assistance," he said. "It could be a small amount to repair their home, or in some cases it might be money to repair personal property ... a four-wheeler, a snowmachine, a fish wheel."
FIXING ROADS, SCHOOL
For Eagle residents, FEMA has agreed to pay shipping costs for building materials, Howell said. The costs won't count against the per-family cap on assistance.
"We recognize that getting the material there is a big issue," he said.
In addition to money for individuals to pay for repairs and lost belongings, the state and feds are also offering money to local governments to fix public buildings and roads.
Local officials must apply for the federal money, which would be distributed by the state by July 11. The state also must pay for 25 percent of the costs, for projects such as fixing schools and clinics and public safety buildings.
Homeowners have longer to ask for federal help -- until Aug. 10.
The state estimated last month that the public and individual aid could cost $18 million, Zidek said.
In his e-mail update from Eagle, Bassich wrote that FEMA and the state deserved a "gold star" for their efforts, but also criticized the state Department of Transportation for, he said, failing to provide gravel necessary for the rebuilding effort.
Read The Village, the ADN's blog about rural Alaska, at adn.com/thevillage. Twitter updates: twitter.com/adnvillage. Call Kyle Hopkins at 257-4334.
By KYLE HOPKINS
khopkins@adn.com