As Alaska continues to rebuild the damage to roads, railways, homes and communities up and down the railbelt region as a result of the September floods and windstorms, the Congressional Delegation is explaining to the White House the wide range of impacts on communities, from the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Kenai Peninsula and rural Alaska – including damages that have been estimated to surpass $10 million worth of repairs/renovations.

Senators Murkowski and Begich, and Congressman Young sent a letter to President Barack Obama, signaling the severity of the storms, as well as the potential need for federal assistance, writing:

“Alaskans deeply appreciate the professionalism of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, its federal partners, the American Red Cross and our network of voluntary organizations involved in disaster recovery. We understand that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has dispatched Preliminary Damage Assessment teams to Alaska to document the damages and estimate restoration costs.

“We appreciate your attention to the severe storms that plagued Alaska this fall and ask that you make the full resources of the federal family available to Governor Parnell, consistent with applicable laws and regulations, to aid in the recovery, should the Governor request federal assistance.”

For more information on federal disaster declarations and requirements that must be met, visithttps://www.fema.gov/media/fact_sheets/declaration_process.shtm