Murkowski Says More is Needed in Disaster Declaration
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich today released the following statement after the Obama Administration declared a disaster exists for the State of Alaska for flooding that occurred in the Interior between May 8-13, 2011. Sen. Begich and Sen. Murkowski sent a letter to the Administration on Monday asking FEMA to support the disaster declaration as requested by the Governor on June 1.
“The President’s declaration is a start but I continue to express concern that FEMA will not make funds available to residents of Crooked Creek and Red Devil to repair their homes and replace personal possessions lost in the flood,” Murkowski said. “Our construction season in Alaska is short, and the delay of individual assistance for the Crooked Creek and Red Devil disaster could put the rebuilding effort of homes and restoring the lives of the community by winter in jeopardy.”
“This disaster declaration means the communities of Crooked Creek and Red Devil will get some much-needed federal assistance to rebuild following this spring’s devastating floods. I appreciate the Administration’s quick response to the requests from both the State of Alaska and from the Alaska Senate offices,” Begich said.
FEMA said it is still reviewing whether Individual Assistance will be made available to residents of Crooked Creek and Red Devil. Sens. Begich and Murkowski requested both Individual Assistance and Public Assistance in their letter to the Administration supporting the disaster declaration.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2011
President Obama Signs Alaska Disaster Declaration
The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Alaska and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by an ice jam and flooding during the period of May 8-13, 2011.
Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the ice jam and flooding in the Alaska Native Villages of Crooked Creek and Red Devil in the Kuspuk Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA).
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Dolph A. Diemont as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.
FEMA said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-3272.
###
