?After declaring a state disaster for spring floods that damaged Crooked Creek and Red Devil on the Kuskokwim River, Gov. Sean Parnell is now asking for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to participate in a joint preliminary damage assessment to determine if damages warrant federal assistance, a news release said.
In coordination with Crooked Creek and Red Devil leadership, a state and federal Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) team will determine if the severity and magnitude of damages is beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local governments.
"For a community the size of Crooked Creek the damage is widespread and severe. Based on the PDA's findings we will be able to determine if a request for a Federal Disaster Declaration is warranted," said John Madden, director of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. "While we are requesting a federal assessment for Crooked Creek we are moving forward with the coordination and planning elements that will make the recovery possible. We are providing for the immediate needs of the communities, we have initiated our state disaster assistance programs, and are mustering volunteers and other to render assistance."
The PDA team began work Friday. Damage assessments were scheduled in Crooked Creek on Saturday and in Red Devil on Sunday.
If the PDA team finds that damages do not meet criteria necessary for a Federal Disaster Declaration the State of Alaska Public and Individual Disaster Assistance programs will be implemented.
"In the past we have successfully partnered with the federal government to utilize their program which have the ability to deliver a greater level of aid," said Madden. "With or without a federal declaration we are moving forward with the recovery effort. The affected people need help now. It is not an easy task to rebuild or repair damaged homes in remote Alaska. The state will utilize every available resource to help the communities."
A federal disaster declaration means 75 percent of the disaster costs for repairing eligible public infrastructure and individual damages in the community will be covered by the federal government, while the remaining 25 percent will be paid by the state.
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