Alaskans in several flood-damaged communities will be eligible for state disaster aid to repair homes

Residents in several Alaska communities damaged by spring flooding in recent weeks will be eligible for state disaster assistance to fund repairs to homes and provide assistance with temporary housing.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy declared a disaster for the villages of Sleetmute, Red Devil, McGrath and Glennallen on Friday, adding to a declaration already in place since Sunday for Manley Hot Springs.

Ice jams caused water to back up and flood numerous communities this week, inundating homes in several towns and displacing residents in Manley Hot Springs. In Glennallen, snowmelt caused flooding that has affected several businesses and homes. High water was expected to persist through the weekend there.

Individual assistance applications will be available online, via phone and in-person, state officials say.

Disaster funds will also be available for repairs to the Galena Fire Hall, which collapsed during heavy snow and rainfall in February, and for work on the Lowell Point landslide, the governor’s office said Friday. Officials from the Kenai Peninsula Borough and Seward have worked this week to clear the landslide that occurred Saturday and blocked off access to Lowell Point.