Alaska’s
U.S. Senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski are urging the Obama
Administration to approve a federal disaster declaration for this spring’s
floods in Interior Alaska as requested by Governor Sean Parnell on June 1.
In
a letter to President Obama, Begich and Murkowski detail the devastation caused
in the villages of Crooked Creek and Red Devil as the result of the seasonal
ice jam flooding along the Kuskokwim River.
“These
isolated areas of Alaska make emergency response challenging and we want to
ensure that we have all the resources possible at our disposal. Your immediate
attention and declaration will help ensure that we are doing everything
possible to protect life and property in Alaska,” the letter states.
The
Parnell Administration requested a federal disaster declaration from the
Federal Emergency Management Agency for the flooding that caused extensive
damage to homes and infrastructure in Crooked Creek and Red Devil. According to
the State of Alaska, about 66 percent of the housing in Crooked Creek was
damaged or destroyed after the community experienced the worst flooding in
recorded history this spring.
In
the letter, Begich and Murkowski stress the need for Individual Assistance (IA)
in addition to Public Assistance. With the flooding’s impact on community
infrastructure as well as homes, subsistence caches and tools, the senators say
both types of assistance are necessary to fully support the rebuilding efforts.
The
letter is attached to this release.
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