For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 26, 2002
Statement by the Press Secretary
The President today 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 flooding beginning on April
27, 2002, through May 30, 2002.
The President's action makes Federal funding available to
affected individuals in Fairbanks North Star Borough; McGrath and
Lime Villages in the Iditarod Regional Education Attendance Area
(REAA); Aniak, Crooked Creek, Red Devil and Sleetmute Villages
in the Kuspuk REAA; Kwethluk Village in the Lower Kuskokwim REAA; and
Ekwok and New Stuyahok Villages in the Southwest Region REAA.
Assistance can include disaster housing, grants, low-cost loans
to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help
individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the
disaster.
Federal funding also is available to eligible local
governments in the Matunuska-Susitna Borough on a cost-sharing
basis for the repair or replacement of public facilities damaged by
the flooding. Federal funding is also available on a cost share basis
for hazard mitigation measures.
Joe M. Allbaugh, Director of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), named William Lokey as the Federal
Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected
area.
The Agency said that damage surveys are continuing in other
areas, and additional jurisdictions may be designated after the
assessments are completed.
The Agency said that residents and business owners who sustained
losses in the designated jurisdictions can begin applying for
assistance tomorrow by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362), or
1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The
toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven
days a week until further notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.
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