State of Alaska Individual Assistance provides disaster recovery grants to those impacted by 2021-2022 Alaska Winter Storm

Governor Mike Dunleavy declared the 2021-2022 Alaska Winter Storm a State Disaster on January 3, 2022, in response to numerous impacts from extreme cold weather, high winds, freezing rain, and heavy snowfall. These conditions interrupted power and water distribution, damaged public buildings and homes, restricted travel, and required communities to establish shelter locations for displaced residents. The Jan. 3 declaration activates the state’s Individual Assistance (IA) program which is designed to help individuals and families with damages and/or expenses related to the disaster event.

Residents in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Denali Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough including Nenana, Delta/Greely Regional Education Attendance Area, and the Copper River Regional Education Attendance Area, may be eligible for disaster recovery grants for damages to their primary residences that occurred during the 2021-2022 Alaska Winter Storms.

Disaster survivors can register for the State Individual Assistance program by visiting the State of Alaska’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management webpage at Ready.Alaska.Gov

Online Registration

Begins January 4th, 2022 at Ready.Alaska.Gov

Registration Deadline

March 4, 2022

If you have any questions or issues applying online, please call 1-855-445-7131(Disaster Assistance Hotline)

The State of Alaska IA program has three parts; Temporary Housing grants; Housing Assistance grants; Other Needs Assistance grants.

Temporary Housing can provide funds to secure lodging while applicants pursue permanent housing solutions. Financial assistance may be available for up to 18 months for owners and three months for renters.

Housing Assistance grants can provide funds for damages to primary residences not covered by insurance. The residence must be owner-occupied at the time of the event. The IA program does not help with secondary homes, recreational properties or homes lived in fewer than six months a year. Damages must be serious and negatively impact the essential living spaces in the home, and damages must be from the declared event.

Other Needs Assistance can provide funds for losses to essential personal property not covered by insurance such as clothing, appliances and furniture. Also, recovery costs such as clean up and some storage expenses. It may also help with disaster-caused medical/funeral expenses not covered by insurance.

Based on damages and eligibility, the maximum grant amount an applicant can receive through Housing Assistance is $18,950, and separately, an additional $18,950 for Other Needs Assistance. Temporary Housing is calculated separately based on family size and local rates of stay.

The State of Alaska is working with federal partners to identify programs that may become available to disaster survivors. If activated, federal disaster assistance must be pursued before a State IA award.

More IA information can be found at www.ready.alaska.gov/Recovery/IndividualAssistance