President Declares Major Disaster for Alaska Following Fall Weather

The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reported that President Bush 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 a severe fall storm, tidal surges, and flooding from Sept. 22-26.

Acting FEMA Director R. David Paulison said 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 severe fall storm, tidal surges, and flooding.

Areas included in the disaster declaration are the Bering Strait Regional Education Attendance Area, Kashunamiut Regional Education Attendance Area, Lower Kuskokwim Regional Education Attendance Area, and the Northwest Artic Borough.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Paulison named Dennis Hunsinger as the federal coordinating officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area. Hunsinger said that additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.