‘No Trespassing’ Hindering Alaska Flood Relief

Federal and state officials trying to help homeowners affected by weeks of flooding in south central Alaska are encountering “No Trespassing” signs.

The signs are slowing work by members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Mat-Su Borough spokeswoman Patty Sullivan told KTUU News.

Teams are moving too quickly and examining too much damage to make appointments with homeowners and individually ask for permission to assess properties, said Sam Walton, chief of the division’s Public Assistance branch.

While workers are now asking about signs on properties during the relief-application process, anyone who has already filled out an application is asked to post a “FEMA OK” sign near their “No Trespassing” signs to allow assessments to continue.