Begich Announces Over $1 Million in Federal Funding to Repair Flood Damaged Roads in Alakanuk
U.S Senator Mark Begich today announced over $1 million in federal funding to repair multiple road sites in Alakanuk caused by severe flooding from last spring. Sen. Begich chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia. The funding is being provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“These funds are welcome news to the people of Alakanuk, who were hit hard by springtime flooding that caused major damage all across Alaska,” said Begich. “As part of this repair project I have worked closely with FEMA to make sure they understand how important it is to rebuild stronger and better. As a result, additional funds are included to prevent this type of devastating destruction in the future.”
Flood waters and ice removed the top 3 inches of surface gravel from 32,805 feet of roads, creating a hazardous travel situation in the city. The water level overtopped all roads dislocating and destroying existing culvert at Anderson and 5th Street and saturating Landfill Road, making it impassable. Funding for this project includes 12 sites, 3 of which will include mitigation efforts totaling over $240,000.
In June, Sen. Begich wrote to the President and worked with the Administration to ensure that Alaska received a Major Disaster declaration from FEMA so that projects such as this could be funded and recovery could begin. The President declared a Major Disaster existed on June 25th and directed FEMA to work with the State of Alaska to provide funding to communities so repairs could begin before winter.