Assistance available for 2021-2022 winter storm

Winter storm damage marking the close of 2021 and the start of 2022 have been declared a state disaster, activating the state’s individual assistance program to help individuals and families with expenses related to extreme cold, high winds, freezing rain and heavy snow.

Residents of the Copper River Regional Education Attendance Area are among those eligible for disaster recovery grants for damages to their primary residences that occurred during these storms.

Those eligible should register for the State Individual Assistance program by visiting the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management at ready.alaska.gov.

The program was announced Tuesday, Jan. 4. The deadline to apply is March 4.

The program includes temporary housing grants, housing assistance grants and other needs assistance grants.

Temporary housing can provide funds to secure lodging while applicants work to find permanent housing. Financial assistance may be available for up to 18 months for owners and three months for renters. Housing assistance grants can be used for damages to primary residences not covered by insurance, but secondary homes, recreational properties or homes lived in fewer than six months of the year.

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Other needs assistance can provide funds for losses to essential personal property not covered by insurance, such as clothing, appliances and furniture. These funds may also be used to cover clean up and some storage expenses, and 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.

State officials said they are 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 information is at ready.alaska.gov/Recovery/IndividualAssistance.

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