Disasters
RSSFederal disaster declarations (FEMA / SBA), emergency response, recovery operations, and disaster-related loan programs affecting Alaska
Tok DMV closed Wednesday as Mukluk Fire evacuation continues
The Tok DMV and every state office at 1314 Alaska Highway are closed Wednesday under the Mukluk Fire evacuation, with no reopening date given
by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago1 min readAI
Mukluk Fire households can apply for up to $44,800 in state grants through Oct. 19
Households hit by the Mukluk Fire can apply for up to $44,800 in state grants through Oct. 19. The state's own paperwork lists two different hotlines.
by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago2 min readAI
Juneau's glacial outburst flood crested Thursday at 14.7 feet, above major flood stage
Juneau is responding to glacial outburst flooding, nearly 1,900 homes in its advisory area, after the Mendenhall crested above major flood stage Thursday.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min readAI
Mat-Su Assembly declares Talkeetna flood emergency, seeks state aid for permanent fix
Mat-Su Assembly declared a local emergency over Susitna River flooding in Talkeetna to unlock state aid for a permanent fix that could cost over $20 million.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Alaska has spent a fifth of its open federal disaster money, with six weeks on the clock
Alaska holds $357.7 million in open federal disaster grants and has spent about a fifth. One 2015 North Slope grant has paid out $6,176 in eleven years.
by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago2 min readAI
FEMA's Mukluk Fire grant pays for firefighting, not for people who lost homes
FEMA declared a fire grant for the Mukluk Fire on Tuesday. It pays for firefighting supplies and crew gear, not for anyone who lost a house.
by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago1 min readAI
Dunleavy declares state disaster after Juneau's fourth straight glacial flood
Governor Dunleavy declared a state disaster for Juneau. This unlocks state funds for flood repairs and speeds up emergency permits.
by Melinda Communities.News1w ago1 min readAI
Nearly 1,900 Juneau homes are under an evacuation advisory as a glacial flood nears
Nearly 1,900 Mendenhall Valley homes, almost double last year, are under an evacuation advisory as Suicide Basin fills toward a major glacial flood expected in early August.
by Alaska News1mo ago2 min readAI
Nearly four years on, Alaska has been paid 15 percent of Merbok's $90.9 million
Nearly four years after Typhoon Merbok, only about 15% of the FEMA rebuild money has been paid out — and the deadline to finish the work is seven weeks away.
by Lucas Brown1w ago3 min readAI
Kodiak weighs sounding its tsunami sirens the moment a warning hits
Kodiak may set its tsunami sirens to sound the instant a warning hits, and let dispatch trigger them on local signs before any federal alert arrives.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Juneau's flood barriers came from an Illinois stockpile
The walls guarding 1,900 Juneau homes from a glacial flood came from an Illinois stockpile. Locals paid for round one; the feds covered all $35 million of round two.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min readAI
Governor's disaster declaration unlocks state aid for Talkeetna flooding
Talkeetna flooding washed away a home and damaged others, and residents want a permanent fix, not another study. The state has authorized disaster assistance for the immediate response.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min readAI
Kipnuk storm loan deadline hits Tuesday
Kipnuk residents and businesses have until Monday to apply for federal economic-injury loans from a 2024 storm. • Most of the village remains evacuated after a 2025 typhoon destroyed 90 percent of local structures. • Applicants can visit sba.gov/disaster or call 800-659-2955 to seek aid.
by Alaska News2mo ago2 min readAI
What "Lake No Lake" is, and why the Taku is running cold and full of debris
Lake No Lake is exactly that — a basin behind a glacier that fills, then drains all at once. It just did, sending cold water and debris down the Taku. No flooding expected.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Kipnuk is being pieced back together, one boardwalk at a time
Alaska closes its federal disaster recovery updates as Typhoon Halong rebuilding continues in Kipnuk, with over 12,000 feet of boardwalk restored but federal funding delays still slowing the work.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Juneau declares a glacier-flood emergency — in 16 minutes, without debate
Juneau assembly did not move glacially in response to glacier-flood emergency
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min readAI
Alaska Senate backs Kipnuk, Kwigillingok relocation after Typhoon Halong
Alaska Senate unanimously backed relocation of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok after Typhoon Halong devastated the coastal villages last September, calling for full state and federal support though the resolution itself does not fund the move.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Job and training help for western Alaska's storm-displaced residents
Months after last October's storms displaced western Alaska residents, the state has gathered job and training help for them, part of a still-growing recovery effort.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Cordova council weighs hazard plan tied to federal disaster funds
Cordova City Council voted on its Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, required by FEMA to keep federal disaster and resilience funding. Without approval, the coastal city risks losing money for seawalls and flood protection.
by Alaska News3mo ago1 min readAI
TCC offers disaster relief to tribal members hit by fire, flooding
Tanana Chiefs Conference offers one-time disaster payments to enrolled tribal members whose homes or possessions are damaged by fire, flooding, or high winds, covering appliances, food loss, and winter gear with no income requirement.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min readAI
HESCO barrier repair was a week from done, Juneau committee told
Juneau's HESCO flood barriers were nearly complete in early July, with the Army Corps finishing Phase 2 of temporary defenses protecting nearly 1,900 homes under evacuation advisory.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min readAI
