Alaska Delegation Applauds Announcement of 100% Federal Cost Share for Western Alaska Disaster | U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska

09.29.22

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (each R-Alaska), Consultant Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska), and Governor Mike Dunleavy (R-Alaska) immediately welcomed an announcement that President Biden has accepted the State of Alaska’s request to waive the state’s price share for particular person and public help for restoration efforts from the impacts of Hurricane Merbok in Western Alaska. President Biden’s order immediately will increase the federal share for emergency help to one hundred pc of the overall eligible prices for the primary 30 days following the incident, up from the unique 75 p.c federal price share accepted on September 23. The President accepted an analogous association for the restoration from Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico.

“I thank the President for listening to us and approving our request for a 100% waiver of the State’s price share for federal help related to restoration efforts from the Western Alaska catastrophe,” Senator Murkowski mentioned. “In the present day’s announcement is the results of the Alaska Delegation’s dogged efforts to make the case to the administration, in addition to our colleagues—working to coach them on the wants of Western Alaska—and it paid off,” mentioned Senator Murkowski. “The storm injury from Hurricane Merbok is extreme and the restoration wants are in depth. I noticed destruction in each impacted group I visited—injury to infrastructure like roads in Elim, houses floated off of their foundations in Golovin, in depth flood injury, subsistence camps actually worn out, taking boats, nets, and four-wheelers. This waiver will go a good distance within the areas’ highway to restoration, and with freeze-up simply weeks away, approval of this waiver couldn’t have come quickly sufficient.”

“I’m glad to see that the federal authorities has honored our request to waive the state’s price share for the aid to Western Alaskans simply as was accomplished lately for Puerto Rico,” Senator Sullivan mentioned. “I’ve been working this difficulty continuous, talking immediately a number of instances previously few days with the Secretary of Homeland Safety and senior White Home officers, and I had an modification to the Persevering with Decision (CR) able to go within the occasion these discussions with the Biden administration weren’t profitable. The delegation additionally wrote a letter to the FEMA Administrator and I spoke on the Senate flooring about this. I wish to thank the federal officers who listened and ensured a immediate price share waiver. Thanks additionally to all the Alaskans who’ve come collectively and remained resilient and hard all through this catastrophe. Assistance is on the best way. Now could be the time to begin making use of for support that may help with all the things from emergency shelter to meals and different wants. The delegation will proceed to remain targeted on the necessary rebuilding course of.”

“I wish to thank President Biden for listening to the Alaska delegation’s issues and approving a 100% federal price share for our state,” mentioned Consultant Peltola. “This extra federal funding will raise an enormous burden off Alaskans who’re working so arduous to rebuild after the devastation introduced by Hurricane Merbok. These subsequent few weeks are vital for making crucial repairs earlier than the winter months and I’m grateful that President Biden has answered our name for assist.”  

“We all know the subsequent few weeks can be vital for the communities impacted by the storm. From the start, we’ve accomplished all the things to assist restoration in Western Alaska, together with asking for added assist from the federal authorities,” mentioned Governor Mike Dunleavy. “Rural Alaska is hard, however this storm broken vital infrastructure and private property – a price too nice to deal with alone, which is why we requested for added federal assist. Thanks to Biden Administration for waiving one hundred pc of the State’s price share for added catastrophe help. Alaska’s Congressional Delegation and I do know the waiver will go a good distance in serving to restore the injury to those communities. Let’s get our Alaskan households again on their toes.”

For questions on making use of for support, please e mail storm@prepared.alaska.gov.

BACKGROUND:

On September 16, remnants of Hurricane Merbok produced widespread injury to communities in Western Alaska—flooding of houses and companies; injury to infrastructure for energy and water, in addition to roads and bridges; and impacts to roughly 1,000 miles of shoreline.

On September 20, Governor Dunleavy requested a federal catastrophe declaration which was instantly adopted by a letter from the Alaska congressional delegation urging President Biden to expeditiously approve his request. On September 23, the President issued a serious catastrophe declaration to assist Western Alaska’s restoration.

In Governor Dunleavy’s Main Catastrophe request, he requested a federal waiver for the State of Alaska’s price share for particular person and public help restoration efforts in western Alaska, which was adopted by a letter from the Alaska congressional delegation urging FEMA to approve Governor Dunleavy’s request.