The Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide more funds to help residents of three Interior Alaska communities hit hard by spring flooding rebuild their homes, according to Sen. Mark Begich.
The decision by FEMA Associate Administrator Joe Nimmich, naming Galena, Circle, and Eagle as eligible for Permanent Housing Construction funds, was first relayed to the state's congressional delegation. Begich's office publicly announced the decision in a Friday statement.
"Under this designation, FEMA will pay 100 percent of the purchase and shipping costs for materials to repair the damages caused in Galena by the floods," Begich's office wrote. "This designation is exceptionally rare, used only twice before in response to earthquake and flood damage in American Samoa and in Eagle, Alaska following the 2009 flood disaster."
Begich had praise Friday for both the decision and the resilience of Galena residents.
"The people of Galena have lost their homes and livelihoods but they haven't lost hope," Begich said in the statement. "I know the community is hard at work to rebuild before winter comes and I want to make sure Galena residents have the supplies and materials they need to get the job done."
Begich says he plans to visit Galena next month to see recovery efforts firsthand. He will be accompanied by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.
FEMA offices in Washington, D.C. weren't immediately available for comment Friday as of 2:45 p.m. Alaska time, or 6:45 p.m. Eastern time.
Since the floodwaters receded, a second tide of assistance has flowed into the community, as well as others hit by the disaster. Funds were unlocked by a May 31 state disaster declaration by Gov. Sean Parnell, which was expanded in June, as well as a federal disaster declaration issued by President Obama.
The State of Alaska opened a temporary Galena disaster assistance center in late June to help residents apply for funds. The federal Small Business Administration is offering low-interest loans to those affected, while the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development says disaster unemployment is available to those who have lost work hours.
Contact Chris Klint