$108 million approved to aid Western Alaska communities rebuild from Typhoon Merbok

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – More than $108 million has been approved to help Western Alaska communities to rebuild public infrastructure damaged by Typhoon Merbok, the massive storm devastating communities there in 2022. Disaster funds, approved this week by FEMA and the Alaska Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, will go towards helping reimburse the costs incurred by the storm.

Bryan Fisher, the Director of the Alaska Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said it’s an incredible amount of money.

“A majority of that $100 million that was just announced will go towards public infrastructure,” said Fisher. “Making repairs to harbors, roads, bridges, the airports that are out there. There were a number of school facilities, community power plants and water treatment plants that were damaged by storm surge and by wind damage.”

Fisher said he expects a substantial amount of other money will be added to help, including from other agencies. Fisher said he’s expecting there to be a total of $200 million in aid for Western Alaska communities impacted by Merbok. FEMA and Fisher’s office have started to look beyond the damages, repairing what was damaged prior to the storm and helping communities become more resilient to future storms. The money was sent to cities, towns and 47 recognized Alaska Native communities,” said Fisher. The recent money is in addition to $7 million given to homeowners and residents in the area, he said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency included these approved recovery projects:

• $15.9 million for roadway and culvert repairs in Hooper Bay
• $12 million for Point Road, or Winter Trail, repairs in Teller
• $11.6 million for city-wide road repairs in Golovin
• $5.9 million for community berm repairs for the Native Village of Shaktoolik
• $242 thousand for removal of debris in Nome, Elim, Koyuk, Napaskiak, Nunam Iqu, Shaktoolk and Chevak

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