The Trump administration has denied Alaska’s request for full reimbursement for disaster relief efforts following last October’s devastating Western Alaska storms, despite the Dunleavy administration’s claim that the federal disaster declaration meant the state would be fully reimbursed.
The denial leaves the state on the hook for millions of dollars for disaster recovery, though the full amount is still unknown.
The state’s request for federal support for 100% of disaster relief efforts in the first 90 days after the storms hit was denied on Dec. 20, according to a spokesperson for the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management on Jan. 29.
The state appealed the denial on Jan. 15, and asked for a 90% federal cost reimbursement, but has not yet received a response from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“We have not heard back from FEMA on approval or denial and there is no timeframe requirement,” said Jeremy Zidek, public information officer for the division, by email.
In the meantime, the federal government is reimbursing Alaska’s disaster recovery efforts at roughly 75%, leaving the state to cover 25% of its costs, with some exceptions for certain relief programs, Zidek said.
A typical cost share between the federal government and a state for disaster relief efforts is a 75% federal and 25% state cost split.
Following the West Coast storm disaster in October, Gov. Mike Dunleavy quickly declared a state disaster emergency. On Oct. 22, his office announced that the Trump administration had approved the state’s request for a federal disaster declaration and the state’s full costs would be covered immediately following the storms.
“The federal disaster declaration authorizes a 100 percent federal cost share for all categories of relief assistance for the next 90 days,” Dunleavy said in a statement.
The governor’s office did not respond to questions about his previous statement or whether his office had communication from the Trump administration about why the request for 100% aid was denied.
The Western Alaska storms and particularly ex-Typhoon Halong brought record-breaking winds and flooding — damaging thousands of structures, roads, boardwalks, airports and other critical infrastructure. It prompted the state’s largest mass evacuation of residents from their homes to other villages, Bethel and Anchorage.
While some Western Alaska residents are continuing to rebuild through the winter, other residents who evacuated to Anchorage are living in temporary housing. As of Jan. 29, the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management reports that 471 residents are still sheltering in hotels in Anchorage.
The state is administering public assistance programs, which reimburse costs of repairing public infrastructure and utilities, as well as providing individual disaster assistance, in partnership with other agencies, including FEMA.
FEMA has awarded $31.2 million in individual assistance as of late January, Zidek said.
More than 2,000 residents have been awarded state individual assistance, and 1,794 households have registered for federal assistance from FEMA.
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