State, FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Fairbanks

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A state and federal Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is set to open Tuesday, July 16, in Fairbanks to assist individuals, households and businesses affected by the 2013 spring floods.

The center is located at 751 Old Richardson Hwy., Suite 202, Fairbanks, AK 99701. The center provides face-to-face help from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week until further notice.

The center is staffed by disaster recovery specialists who can provide information and answer questions about flood-related assistance.

Those with 2013 spring flooding losses in the Alaska Gateway Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA), Lower Yukon REAA, Yukon Flats REAA, and the Yukon-Koyukuk REAA are encouraged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or online at DisasterAssistance.gov. Registration by mobile device is also available at www.m.fema.gov. Those with a speech disability or hearing loss who use TTY can call 800-462-7585 (TTY).  Multilingual registration can be done by phone.

Staff at the recovery centers can review and update applicant information and address individual questions and concerns.

Those individuals unable to register by phone or online may register at the DRC. If you intend to register at the DRC, please bring:

  • Your Social Security number
  • Current and pre-disaster address
  • Block and lot number
  • A telephone number where you can be contacted
  • Insurance information

Total household annual income

  • A routing and account number from your bank (only necessary if you want to have disaster assistance funds transferred directly into your bank account). Lookup your bank routing number.
  • A description of your losses that were caused by the disaster.

FEMA disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for housing, replace personal property and reimburse medical, storage and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or charities. Assistance may also include low-interest federal disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA).

SBA offers disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations for their uncompensated losses. Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence. Homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to replace personal property. Businesses may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace their property damage and/or economic losses.

There are three ways to apply for an SBA disaster loan:  After registering with FEMA, go online to SBA’s secure site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; call 1-800-659-2955 (deaf and hard-of-hearing call 1-800-877-8339); or, visit the Disaster Recovery Center for one-on-one service. For more information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

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State, FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Fairbanks

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.
 

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Disaster Legal Assistance Available for Alaskans

The state of Alaska and FEMA encourage residents to apply for disaster assistance

Individuals affected by the 2013 Spring Floods, that occurred during the period of May 17 to June 11, 2013, may now call or go online to register for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“Registering is an important first step on the path to a variety of recovery programs,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Dolph Diemont. “We are encouraging people to apply as soon as possible.”

“Registering with FEMA is essential, even if survivors have already registered with the State,” said State Coordinating Officer Bryan Fisher.

The major federal disaster, signed by President Obama on June 25, authorizes assistance to individuals and households in Alaska Gateway Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA), Lower Yukon REAA, Yukon Flats REAA, and the Yukon-Koyukuk REAA.

Disaster survivors have several ways to apply.

  • Individuals can call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 1-800-462-7585 directly. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) should call 1-800-621-3362.
  • Another option is to register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time), seven days a week.

Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, and phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.

If you have questions about FEMA assistance, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). You can also visit www.disasterassistance.gov or www.fema.gov.

Please note: Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.

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.

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The state of Alaska and FEMA encourage residents to apply for disaster assistance