Governor Parnell Requests Federal Declaration for the 2013 Spring Floods

7/28/2019 Governor Parnell Requests Federal Declaration for the 2013 Spring Floods

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STATE CAPITOLP.O. Box I 1000 I

Juneau, AK 9981 1-000 I907-465-3500

fax: 907-465-3532

June 14,2013

The Honorable Barrack ObamaPresident of the United StatesThe White House1600 Pennsylvania AvenueWashington, DC 20500Through:Mr. Kenneth D. MurphyRegional AdministratorFEMA Region X130-228 th Street SWBothell, WA 98021-9796Dear Mr. President,

Governor Sean ParnellSTATE OF ALASKA

550 West Seventh Avenue, Suite Anchorage, AK 9950 I

907-269-7450fax 907-269-7461

[email protected]

Under the provisions of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief andEmergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.c. 5121-5207 (Stafford Act), and implemented by 44CFR 206.36, I request that you declare a major disaster emergency for the State of Alaska asa result of flooding from May 17, 2013 and continuing.The 2013 Spring Floods Disaster has caused severe, widespread threats to life and property. Themajor floods caused by ice jams as well as the subsequent riverine flooding throughout multiplecommunities has caused substantial damages to public infrastructure, private residences, andbusinesses. Emergency response operations and communi ty stabilization efforts are still underway inseveral communities.The disaster has left 194 homes uninhabitable. This is extremely significant as the remotecommunities in rural Alaska are small, and their neighbors do not have the capacity to provide fortransient housing or relocation. Some of the affected communities are hub communities supportingresidents and economies of the surrounding villages. Not since the 1994 Koyukuk Fall FloodDisaster have we experienced a disaster of such magnitude in remote Alaska, and during that eventonly 93 homes were left uninhabitable.The significant impacts to public infrastructure further complicate the emergency sheltering,transient housing, and recovery of individuals and families who have lost their homes. Theseimpacts include extensive hazardous material spills, damage to the sewage system causing wastecontamination across the community, power failure and power transmission damage, and the loss ofaccess to the landfill. The local governments are unable to fully function because a majority of staffhave been personally impacted by the disaster. Remaining staff are immensely overwhelmed with theamount of work necessary to respond to an event of this size.


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The Honorable Barrack ObamaJune 14,2013Page 2

The following information is furnished to describe the nature and amount of State and localresources that have been or will be used to alleviate the conditions of this disaster:

Local Disaster Declarations. The following communities have declared a local disasteremergency to exist under Alaska Statues, stating the severity and magnitude of the disasterexceeds their local response capabilities: Native Village of Circle, City of Fort Yukon, City ofHughes, City of Galena, City of Alakanuk, City of Emmonak, and the Community of Tok.

Local Emergency Operations Centers. The State took swift action to support Galena anddeployed a State Incident Management Team on May 30 to provide leadership, support, andtraining in the community during the initial response. Plans are being developed for arecovery team comprised of State staff to assist the community in transition to a longer termrecovery. This team will provide ongoing support and training as the IMT begins todemobilize in mid-June.

Local Emergency Response Operations. The following communities conductedemergency response operations during the disaster:

o Alaska Gateway Regional Educational Attendance AreaEagle: Community worked to move household items to higher ground and warnresidents of initial flood waters. They worked with the State to determine if damagedstructures are full time residences, recreational properties, or non-residencestructures.Tok: Requested and placed 5,500 sand bags to protect homes and structures. Theymoved fill to create berms to divert flood waters from reaching school grounds.

o Yukon Flats Regional Educational Attendance AreaCircle: Coordinated with all residents for alerts on flooding and movement to highground. They are providing ongoing shelter for those displaced by flooding. Theyalso coordinated with the State to help with flood response and recovery activities.Fort Yukon: As a medical precaution, seven elders and one caregiver were evacuated.The community provided alerts and warnings to its residents during active floodingconcerns.

o Yukon-Koyukuk Regional Educational Attendance AreaGalena: Coordinated emergency evacuations of approximately 294 residents. Openedemergency shelters at the local school and in Fairbanks, and accounted for residents.Determined immediate emergency needs to include food, water, and safetyequipment. They requested emergency equipment for initial operations from theState and Tanana Chiefs Conference. They also worked to open some roads and theairport by clearing debris and doing initial repairs.


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Hughes: Community provided alerts and warnings to residents and moved personalproperty to higher ground. They then evacuated residents to high ground duringactive flooding. Community members removed debris and repaired roads and therunway for air access. They cleaned homes and the school, and had their water testedfrom the water plant.Koyukuk: Community provided ongoing alerts and warnings during flooding, andnine residents self-evacuated.Manley: 5,000 sand bags were requested and placed to protect homes and structures.Stevens Village: They provided alerts and warnings to residents, and moved personalproperty to high ground. As a medical precaution, seven medically fragile or elderlyresidents were evacuated.Tanana: 1,000 sand bags requested and placed to protect low-lying homes.

o Lower Yukon Regional Educational Attendance AreaAlakanuk: Community provided alerts and warnings to residents and moved peopleand property to higher ground prior to flooding. They worked to protect criticalinfrastructure from flooding; during this work a resident suffered cardiac arrest anddied.Emmonak: They moved personal property and residents to higher ground whennecessary, effectively using local alert and warning systems. The community isworking with the State to provide damage assessments and response coordination.

State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC). On May 14, the SEOC was activated toLevel 2 - heightened sense if wareness with Division management team staffing - in preparation forthe annual River Watch Program. The State of Alaska Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)was implemented to provide a coordinated local, State, federal, volunteer, and private agencyresponse (Alaska EOP Page 23).On May 19, the SEOC was elevated to Level 3 - an actual event occurred or mqy be imminent, withDivision and State liaison stqffing including National Guard and Red Cross - to support disasterresponse and recovery in multiple jurisdictions across the state.On May 28, the City of Galena contacted the SEOC with grave concerns for life safety.They requested immediate life safety evacuations with residents possibly stranded on rooftops. The SEOC immediately coordinated with the State Rescue Coordination Center andrequested emergency evacuation support. The Alaska Air and Army National Guard, the USCoast Guard, and Alaska State Troopers supported the evacuation. Approximately 294residents and 29 dogs were evacuated to include those evacuated by faith basedorganizations and Tanana Chief's Conference (TCC) the night prior.


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The Honorable Barrack ObamaJune 14, 2013Page 4

The SEOC coordinated support of the evacuees with TCC and the Red Cross. Additionalwork was undertaken daily, and is ongoing, to ensure that effective coordination with TCC isdone to provide ongoing support. TCC is operating like a secondary governmental entity,i.e., a borough, to provide necessary support and coordination with all residents of affectedcommunities, no t just their tribal members . This is an example of Alaskans working togetherunder the whole community concept common in our state.Following a visit to the Galena disaster area, I declared a disaster emergency on May 31,2013, for the Alaska Gateway Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA), the YukonFlats REAA, the Yukon-Koyukuk REAA, and the Copper River REAA.After additional flooding and ongoing response efforts, I amended the initial DisasterDeclaration on June 12,2013 to include the Lower Yukon REAA and further deflned theincident as flooding from ice jam and riverine flooding from excessive runoff. Additionally,on June 6, 2013, the Alaska Legislature provided an initial funding appropriation for thisdisaster of $3,250,000.Due to severe impacts in Galena, the City and Tribe requested emergency managementassistance. On May 30, the SEOC placed an eight member Incident Management Team(IMT) in Galena to provide immediate emergency management support. The IMT has beenextended through June 20 to continue to provide support and work with the City and Tribeto stabilize the community and return emergency management to the local governments.The State sponsored IMT has requested and supported power support technicians, waterspecialists, spill response specialists, solid waste specialists, behavioral health specialists,security support, and supplies necessary for transient on-site sheltering. Communicat ion,transportation, and water puriflcation equipment has also been provided to Galena and otheraffected communities.

The previous recent disasters have put an ever increasing strain on State agencies and affected localjurisdictions throughout the State which are working hard to recover from multiple incidents. Thefollowing is a list of those incidents. For events with Presidential Declarations, the State of Alaskacovers the full 25 percent cost share requirement; all other costs are funded 100 percent with StateDisaster relief funding. Total estimated State Disaster costs for recent declared disasters:$32,395,770. The State's support of disaster response and recovery this past year has been exhaustiveand corroborates this request for Federal Assistance.

2011 Birch Creek Fire, declared August 9, 2011On May 26, 2011, the tribal offlce building in Birch Creek caught fIre . The fIrespread and destroyed the community's power plant, tribal offlce, potable wateringpoint, and telephone building. State Disaster Declaration was made, with estimatedrecovery cost of $954,660.00 in State Public Assistance damages.


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2011 Dot Lake Fire, declared October 4, 2011On August 28,2011, a fire at the village utility building occurred. The buildinghoused the local washeteria with showers, and provided water and heat for severalhomes in the community. State Disaster Declaration was made, with estimatedrecovery cost of $1,437,980.00 in State Public Assistance damages.

2011 West Coast Storm, declared December 5, 2011Federal Disaster declared December 22, 2011 (DR-4050)On November 7, 2011, the National Weather Service issued the first of several coastal floodwarnings for the western coastline of Alaska from Hooper Bay to the North Slope.Estimated State recovery costs: $2,320,579.00 for non-federal share for Public Assistance,$140,000.00 for the State disaster area, and $1,150,000.00 for State Individual Assistance.Total estimated State costs: $3,610,579.

2011 Kenai Peninsula Windstorm, declared December 12, 2011Federal Disaster declared February 2, 2012 (DR-4054)On November 1, 12, and 15, 2011, a series of major windstorms caused widespread poweroutages threatening life and property. Estimated State recovery costs: $497,014.00 for nonfederal share, $1,132,090.00 for State only disaster area. Total estimated State costs:$1,629,104.

2012 Prince William Sound Winter Storm, declared on February 9, 2012Beginning in mid-December 2011, and continuing through January 2012, the City ofCordova and Prince William Sound area began receiving snowfall that put them on course toapproach or break record seasonal precipitation accumulation. On December 12, the City ofCordova began working in emergency snow removal status. Avalanches across roadways andextreme conditions limited or cut of f access to airports and other critical infrastructure andendangered public, private, and commercial facilities throughout the communities. Estimatedrecovery costs of $3,391,908.00 in State Public Assistance damages.

2012 Kivalina Water Shortage, declared on September 7, 2012Beginning on August 13, and continuing through August 20,2012, a severe low pressuresystem over the Kotzebue Sound produced record rainfall, st rong winds and waves, andassociated high runoff on the Wulik and Kivalina Rivers. Together, raised water levels in theI


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2012 September Severe Storms, declared on September 21,2012Federal Disaster declared November 27, 2012 (DR-4094)Beginning on September 4, and continuing through September 30, 2012, high winds, heavyrains, and widespread flooding resulted in severe damage for the Matanuska-SusitnaBorough, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska Gateway REAA, Chugach REAA, DenaliBorough, and Yukon Koyukuk REAAs. Loss of power critically impacted communityabilities to heat public buildings and private homes, which in this Arctic environment is acritical life safety function. Estimated State recovery costs: $3,364,789 for non-federal share,$11,557,819 for State Public Assistance, and $6,198,931 in State Individual Assistance. Totalestimated State costs: $21,121,539.

Joint preliminary damage assessments were conducted for the Individual Assistance Programfrom June 6 - 12,2013 and validated the following damages:

15 Homes Destroyed107 Homes with Major Damage72 Homes with Minor Damage31 Homes Affected

Currently, 190 residents are being sheltered in temporary facilities; their homes areuninhabitable, and they lack access to other housing resources. One hundred fifty of theseresidents are being sheltered in a boarding school located in Galena that is only availableuntil mid-August. Planning to determine options for transient housing will need to beaccomplished soon in order to provide safe shelter prior to winter. Numerous families arealso staying with relatives, friends, or in hotels. These forms of temporary housing arehistorically short-lived, and many of these families will soon require alternate housingassistance. It is critical to keep families and communities together to preserve cultural andsubsistence lifestyles in our remote communities. Relocation of residents to a communityhundreds of miles away via expensive air carriers will not support the families impacted inthis event.The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) definition for minor damaged structuresdoes not necessarily align with Alaskan conditions and the needs of the residents affected. FEMAquantifies "minor" damage as a home with damages that may be uninhabitable, but may be madehabitable in less than 30 days. Some items that determine minor damage include:

Windows or doors unsecured (damaged) Damage to functional components (i.e. furnace, water heater, HVAC, etc.) Three to eighteen inches of water in an occupied or required room Damage, or disaster related contamination, to private well or septic system

Many affected residents with damaged homes are financially fragile and lack the capability to absorbunexpected costs above their normal living expenses, regardless of the federal or State damagedefinitions. As a result, these vulnerable residents will be unable to make permanent repairs without


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foregoing other vital needs such as utilities, medicine, and food which are a daily struggle to provideeven without this disaster.Due to the severe impacts to households in our remote communities, I request direct assistance withtransitional housing provisions, long term recovery planning support to communities, and directpermanent housing replacement reconstruction. The State has worked for many years to develop aneffective and efficient plan for climate-appropriate housing replacement in catastrophic disasters. Weimplemented this effort in the 2011 Spring Flood in Crooked Creek with great success. These plans,developed by and with management from our University of Alaska Cold Climate Housing ResearchCenter, can aid in recovery that is appropriate for the area and cost effective. However, the costs toeach applicant will exceed their individual assistance grants and require direct build support that theState is successful in implementing.The Individual Assistance Program has been initiated to ensure timely delivery of assistance if aFederal Declaration is no t forthcoming. Applications are actively being taken, damages verified, andplanning support begun for recovery plans. Additionally, we have activated our Disaster HousingTask Force to begin planning efforts on recovery. The impacts from this event are catastrophic toour small remote communities, and if we were to combine both State and federal programs, wewould still require the resources and support of other federal agencies and non-governmentalorganizations. Therefore, the current steps being taken will assist us in the longer term recoveryprocess and can be ultimately coordinated into FEMA's program if a Federal Declaration isprovided.The extensive damage to residential homes in the remote communities of the disaster area resultedin 122 families with uninhabitable homes due to major damage or destruction. Alaska has a veryshort building season, with approximately 120 days left to organize and develop housing optionsbefore winter arrives. Winter brings extreme temperatures and further restricts our transportation toair freight once the rivers freeze. A rapid, comprehensive planning effort to develop shelter isrequired to ensure community members can safely return to their town prior to the onset of winterin October.A summary of the communities with significant damage to households is listed below.

Galena

The majority of the uninhabitable homes are located in the City and Tribal Village of Galenawith limited available housing stock for temporary or long term housing needs. In fact, 54percent of the homes in Galena are no longer habitable.Galena is located on the Yukon River 270 air miles from Fairbanks, the largest community withavailable housing in the region. The surrounding communities are small villages located up anddown river from Galena; Ruby, with a population of 166, is approximately 50 miles upriver, andKoyukuk, with a population of 96, is approximately 30 miles downriver.Galena is considered a hub community due to its infrastructure support of the smallersurrounding villages; therefore, the disaster in Galena impacts many more Alaskans and


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communities than it appears at first glance. Our communities are interdependent, and the hubssupport the residents and economies of the smaller surrounding villages and are critical for theircont inued success. Full disaster recovery in the area is paramount to the success of our ruralcommunities and native tribal culture in Alaska.Access to Galena is restricted to boat or air travel. Shipped goods travel downriver by barge on a10 day voyage from Nenana. At a significandy higher cost, air freight is an option for goods, bu tthe asphalt runway, approximately 7249 feet in length and 150 feet in width, can only supportlimited deliveries.The 2010 Census puts the population of Galena a t 470 people. Of those, 10.42 percent of thepopulation is elderly (over 65) and 63.62 percent are Alaska Native or American Indian whichpromotes a strong and vibrant presence of Athabascan culture. There is a 4.83 percentunemployment rate and a 9.98 percent poverty rate. The per capita income of$29,161 in Galenais significandy lower than the Alaska per capita average of $46,778 and the national per capitaaverage of $42,693.Much of this population survives through subsistence, gardens, and gathering supplies insummer to survive the long winter. This disaster has destroyed most of residents' supplies andsubsistence foods; a delayed recovery will gready increase their dependence on the State throughthe winter months. Circle

The community of Circle was also impacted by this disaster. Circle is an Athabascan villagelocated on the Yukon River at the edge of the Yukon Flats; it lies 160 air miles northeast ofFairbanks on the eastern end of the Steese Highway. Circle, like the other affected communities,has a continental subarctic climate, characterized by seasonal extreme temperatures and a shortsummer.Though Circle is on the road system, it still receives most of its shipped goods via barge duringthe summer months. The road is rough and difficult for trucks to traverse. There is an air stripwhich will support shipped freight but at a significant cost.The community of Circle consists of 104 people with 84.62 percent Alaska Native or AmericanIndian and an elderly population of 12.5 percent. The community struggles with a significantpoverty rate of 60.66 percent. The per capita income is $8,502, compared to the Alaska percapita average of $46,778 and the per capita national average of $42,693.During this disaster, 28.84 percent of the homes in Circle were affected, with 15.28 percentdestroyed. There were only 52 housing units in Circle prior to the disaster. A loss of 28.84percent of the homes and the remote location puts a significant strain on the community's abilityto support its population.


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FortYukonFort Yukon, like Galena, is considered a hub community located on the Yukon and PorcupineRivers, about 145 air miles northeast of Fairbanks. Also similar to Galena, access to Fort Yukonis restricted to travel by air or boat. The winters are long and harsh and the summers are shortbu t warm. Fort Yukon is home to the federally recognized Gwich'in Athabascan Indians.Fort Yukon has a population of 583; of those, 84.19 percent are Alaska Native or AmericanIndian and 8 percent are elderly. Approximately 17 percent of the population lives beneath thepoverty line. The per capita income is $20,937.During this disaster .012 percent of the homes was destroyed or suffered major damage. Arelatively small number made more significant by the logistical difficulties of accessingconstruction supplies to rebuild. HughesHughes is a Koyukuk Athabascan Village, located on the Koyukuk River about 115 air milesnortheast of Galena and 210 air miles nor thwest of Fairbanks. The community is remote andonly accessible by air or boat; causing the same logistical concerns addressed above.The population of Hughes is 77, of those 96.1ercent are Alaska Native or American Indianand 12.98 percent are elderly. The poverty rate is approximately 15 percent, with a per capitaincome of $17,396.Affecting a total of 17.5 percent of the housing, two homes in Hughes had major damage andseven had minor damage. EagleThe City of Eagle is located on the Taylor Highway, six miles west of the Alaskan-Canadianborder. Eagle is on the west bank of the Yukon River at the mouth of Mission Creek. Eagle isalso remote; access is limited to boat or air travel. Historically, Eagle has been home to thefederally recognized Han Kutchin Indians; subsistence lifestyles are still vibrant.Eagle has a population of 86, with 9.2 percent Alaska Native or American Indian and 19.76percent elderly. The per capita income is $19,079, with a poverty rate of 16.90 percent. Affectinga total of 14 percent of the housing, two homes had major damage and one had minor damage.

Residents, businesses, and all levels of government and non-governmental organizations wereaffected by this disastrous event. Due to the power outages and flood damage, much of the foodand game harvested last year was lost. Widespread hazardous material and sewage spills havecontaminated most of the community of Galena making it impossible to plant annual vegetablegardens and affecting the growth of berries in the area, which are necessary for subsistence. Thesevere damages and housing challenges in the community will make it difficult, if no t impossible, forfamilies to fish and hunt to meet their annual food needs.


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Trauma will continue for those residents whose homes suffered substantial damage beyond theirability to permanendy repair. To date, dangerous conditions exist in the community, prioritizingstabilization over recovery. Teams out in the community and shelters have witnessed manyphysically and mentally exhausted residents.The financial trauma suffered by survivors, especially the economically fragile, is an acute concern.While it may be possible for the State and other resources to meet the inunediate life-safety needsduring the response phase, the recovery costs will far exceed State resources. Many homes will havedamaged mechanical systems, such as water pumps, water heaters, and furnaces, and residents whowere already struggling financially are having a very difficult time making payments for pre-existingbills and other expenses while trying to find resources to repair or replace their homes and otheressential living items.The City of Alakanuk reported the death of a local resident participat ing in flood fighting emergencyresponse activities. The death was due to cardiac arrest, bu t was attributed to the strenuousemergency response work. This is a significant traumatic event to a small remote community inaddition to the damages sustained during the flooding.The Preliminary Damage Assessments suggest that a large percentage of those surveyed in the areamay be considered low income. This is an indication that the home mo t affected ate likely ownedby those with the least ability to recover on their own. Many of the affected residents are elderly orhave special needs that preclude them from taking the necessal'Y recoveq actions. Poverty rates arealso well above average in these affected areas, ranging from 9.98 percent to 60.66 percent. Thisfurther illustrates the lack of capabilities and resources to recover without outside assistance.Voluntary agencies involved include, but are not limited to, the American Red Cross, AdventistCommunity Services, and other Alaska Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters. They have thusfar prov ided assistance with staffing the SEOC, damage assessments, sheltering, feeding, collectingand distributing donations, pe t assistance, coordination with partners, mental health services, andcasework in multiple communities affected by the disaster. The organizations continue to work onsecuring funding and volunteers to assist in recovery.Red Cross is currendy operating at a level IV status. Tota l overnight stays at Red Cross-supportedshelters to date is 120 continuous days. Nearly 300 clean up kits, and 409 hygiene kits have beenprovided thus far for affected community residents. Mental Health Services are being supplied to 90contacts. Red Cross support is still being offered at shelters and feeding operations includingsupport to cooks and delivery of lunch and dinner for 40 evacuees in the Fairbanks TCC WillowHome.TCC is providing support in sheltering, planning, and communication to all residents displaced bythis flood. They developed a plan for repatriation in coordination with the State, Cities, Tribes, andIMT in Galena to ensure safe return of residents to on-site shelters within the communities affected.The plan was approved, and TCC is implementing repatriation where appropriate at this time.Adventist Community Services (ACS) has worked with Golden Valley Electric Authority, a localelectric cooperative, to obtain free use of its warehouse facility for use with statewide donat ions


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management. ACS and the State have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement for managementof the donations to include warehouse management. They will also be training volunteers and stafffor donations management in affected communities.The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is requesting an emergency grant to assistwith disaster costs.The voluntary agencies that have responded to this disaster have done an outstanding job assistingwith the immediate needs of affected residents. As the State transitioned from response tostabilization activities, the voluntary agencies rapidly moved to utilize all available resources to meetbasic needs for those whose lives have been most affected.As we look toward recovery activities, we will need even more support and involvement from thesecritical partners. Our local voluntary organizations have a shortage of trained volunteers to spreadover a portion of the state that could be compared to the total size of Texas. This has resulted in achilling realization of how limited their resources are to meet overwhelming need. Additionally, thevoluntary agencies have missions to which they are bound; therefore, many of our residents may falljust above the threshold criteria for their programs.The Preliminary Damage Assessments illustrate a very low percentage (less than 1 percent) ofresidents have insurance coverage on their homes. Many who are financially capable and haveinsurance are being told the damages from the flood are no t an insurable loss. I t is also reasonable toexpect that those with the best insurance coverage are those who are the most financially resilientand can afford the repair or replacement costs on their own. Those who are financially fragile, andmost in need of assistance from outside sources, are the least likely to have insurance coverage.

Average of Median Percent Percent PercentPersons Household Elderly* Disabled Pre-DisasterBelow Income* Unemployment*PovertyLevel*National Average 13.8% $51,914.00 13.3% 12.0% 8.3%State AverageEmmonakCircleGalenaTokFort YukonHughesEagleAlakanuk

***

10.5% $66,521.00 7.7%19.6% $59,875.00 7.2%60.6% $17,500.00 12.5%9.9% $62,917.00 10%7.9% $48,309.00 12.5%17% $20,937 8%15% $17,396 12.98%16.90% $19,079 19.76%

23.5% $38,333 7.4%u.s. Bureau ofCensus QUlckFacts and FactFtnderU.S. Bureau ofCensusQuickFacts and FactFinder (year 2000 data)

10.5% 6.0%9.9%** 19.1%13.8%** 0%15.6%** 4.8%12.9%** 9.6%

6.7% 21.9%10.9% 36.6%8.6% 22.6%9.5% 23%


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J oint preliminary damage assessments were conducted for the Public Assistance Program from June6 - 14,2013 and validated the following damages: Category A $130,100 (1.27%) Category B $1,564,000 (15.33%) Category C $5,389,000(52.81 %) Category D $500,000(4.90%) Category E $1,891,000 (18.53%) Category F $154,500(1.51%) Category G $576,500(5.65%)Total Estimated Cost $10,205,100

Infrastructure damages were mainly attributed to roads and bridges in the affected communitiescovered under Category C work.The emergency work required, which includes debris removal and emergency protective measures,equaled over 16 percent of the total damage estimate for this event and highlights the responseefforts that were required to eliminate or reduce immediate threats to life and property.The affected geographic areas sustained substantial damages, as indicated by their countywide percapita indicators, which ranged from $90.23 to $1,091.80 per person. The statewide per capita totalwas $14.37. All of these are well above the state and county wide per capita indicators required in 44CFR.Given the devastating effects of this disaster, I request the number of federal recovery personnel beappropriate to the size and needs of each community for all provided programs so that together, weprovide disaster assistance to the affected communities without overwhelming them. I specificallyrequest a Federal Small State and Rural Advocate as referenced in Section 326 of the Stafford Act,42 U.S.c. 5165(d) be assigned to advocate for the fair treatment of small States and ruralcommunities in the provision of assistance with response and recovery related issues. I also requestdirect federal assistance with hazardous materials clean up and technical assistance for debrisremoval. Finally, if a Federal Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance is denied, I request anAgency Declaration from Small Business Association. These requests are critical to the initialrecovery and are beyond our State capability.I believe the widespread nature of this disaster, along with the severe long-term impact, compels anexpedited review of this Request for Federal Assistance and timely consideration of the providedinformation. Therefore, I request you declare a Major Presidential Disaster for the State ofAlaska.

GovernorEnclosures

Documents

Governor Parnell Requests Federal Declaration for the 2013 Spring Floods