Disaster Legal Assistance Available for Alaskans

Who:

Alaskans living or working within the Alaska Gateway REAA, Lower Yukon REAA, Yukon Flats REAA and the Yukon Koyukuk REAA which were impacted by the May 17 through June 11 flooding who are self-employed or not eligible for the state’s unemployment compensation program. The services are implemented through a collaborative agreement between the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Alaska Legal Services Corporation.

What:

A toll-free helpline is now available for survivors who are unable to afford a lawyer. For free legal help call 1-800-478-5401 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ADT Monday through Friday. Messages can be left at any time.

The type of free legal help includes:

•    Assistance with securing FEMA and other government benefits available to disaster survivors
•    Assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims
•    Help with home repair contracts and contractors
•    Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the flood
•    Assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures
•    Counseling on mortgage foreclosure problems
•    Counseling on landlord-tenant issues

Where:     

Includes individuals living or working in the communities of Eagle, Tok, Circle, Fort Yukon, Galena, Hughes, Koyukuk, Manley, Stevens Village, Tanana, and Emmonak, as well as other communities within the areas affected by flooding from May 17 through June 11, 2013.

How:

The service allows callers to request the help of a lawyer

Why:

When the U.S. President declares a major disaster, FEMA in conjunction with the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, establishes a toll-free number for disaster survivors to request legal help.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.