Alaska needs more federal resources to recover from typhoon, says Murkowski

A bipartisan, bicameral contingent of Alaska legislators led by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to waive the state’s cost share for federal assistance related to recovery efforts from Typhoon Merbok, which hit the western Alaska coastline earlier this month.

“This waiver will go a long way in helping repair the storm’s damage to bridges, roads, water treatment plants, homes, airstrips, and more,” Sen. Murkowski said on Sept. 27. “Rural communities prior to the storm were already challenged, and it’s imperative that we help them get back on their feet and are able to return to their homes and meet basic needs like running water.”  

Following a federal Major Disaster declaration requested on Sept. 20 by Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Sen. Murkowski, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and U.S. Rep. Mary Sattler Peltola (D-AK) sent a Sept. 22 letter to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell seeking a 100 percent waiver of the state’s cost share for federal individual and public assistance for recovery efforts for 30 days, citing the high costs will require more federal resources.

“We recognize the cost that comes with the destruction to key infrastructure, but we must also consider the challenges that don’t immediately meet the eye — slow-moving disasters such as water damage and the loss of cultural and subsistence tools,” said Sen. Murkowski. “The financial needs to replace such substantial loss is far too great without additional assistance.”

For instance, preliminary assessments across more than 1,000 miles of coastline include damage to bridges, roads, water treatment plants, homes, bulk fuel tanks, seawalls, breakwaters, berms, airstrips, generators, and power plants, according to the lawmakers’ letter.

“I visited a number of the impacted communities over the weekend, including Nome, Elim, Golovin, Hooper Bay and Chevak. Throughout my visits, I spent time talking with tribal leaders, community members, the National Guard, and more, who showed me firsthand the severity of the damage and how much work lies ahead in their road to recovery,” Sen. Murkowski said. 

In their letter, the lawmakers also noted that their waiver request would mirror the FEMA arrangement for the ongoing disaster in Puerto Rico and that they expected Criswell to deliver an equitable decision for Alaska.