Press Releases

FEMA Supports Survivors at SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Anchorage

anna.gonzalez — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:01:53 +0000

FEMA Supports Survivors at SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Anchorage

ANCHORAGE, Alaska –FEMA will now support survivors at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Anchorage and Bethel. Alaskan residents, impacted by the October severe storms, flooding and remnants of Typhoon Halong can visit these centers to meet with FEMA and SBA staff, ask questions about their application, upload required documents and receive further guidance.

SBA offers long-term, low interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, private nonprofit organizations, and businesses of all sizes. SBA disaster loans have very favorable terms with fixed interest rates and automatic 12-month payment deferment with 0% interest for the first 12 months.

Anchorage DLOC #3 – Nordic-Calista Building
375 West 36^th Avenue, Suite 300
Anchorage, AK 99504
Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Alaskans may also get on-site assistance with their FEMA application.

Bethel DLOC – Bethel City Hall – Meeting Rm.
300 Chief Eddie Hoffman Hwy.
Bethel, AK 99559
Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Alaskans may also get on-site assistance with their FEMA application from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays:

Aspen Suites Hotel Anchorage North
624 Rodeo Place
Room 141
Anchorage, AK 99508
Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Survivors will continue to be able to connect with FEMA staff through FEMA’s Alaska Call Center at 1-866-342-1699 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, to answer questions about their application and receive further guidance.

If you applied for FEMA disaster assistance, it is important to stay in touch with FEMA about your disaster assistance application. If you disagree with FEMA’s decision, you have 60 days from the date of your decision letter to make an appeal.

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FEMA is committed to ensuring disaster assistance is accomplished impartially, without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. Any disaster survivor or member of the public may contact the FEMA Civil Rights Office if they feel that they have a complaint of discrimination. FEMA’s Civil Rights Office can be contacted at FEMA-OCR-ECRD@fema.dhs.gov or toll-free at 833-285-7448.

Follow FEMA Region 10 on X and LinkedIn for the latest updates and visit FEMA.gov for more information.

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters.

anna.gonzalez Wed, 04/08/2026 - 17:01

Mullin Reinforces Commitment to North Carolina Recovery Efforts on First Official Trip as Secretary of DHS

amy.ashbridge — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:02:57 +0000

Mullin Reinforces Commitment to North Carolina Recovery Efforts on First Official Trip as Secretary of DHS

The Department of Homeland Security and FEMA are committed to empowering states and accelerating disaster recovery across the nation

WASHINGTON – In his first official trip as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Markwayne Mullin met with Sen. Budd, Rep. Edwards, Rep. Moore and state and local officials in North Carolina to reinforce the Department’s commitment to Western North Carolina’s recovery and coordinate additional federal support.

During his visit, Secretary Mullin underscored the Administration’s commitment by highlighting the additional $130 million recently awarded to the state for recovery and mitigation projects. This includes $103 million in Public Assistance to help the hard-hit area of Western North Carolina rebuild. It also included $26 million in mitigation funding to buy out 75 damaged residential properties, bringing needed relief to the homeowners.

“Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet the fearless state and local leaders of Western North Carolina who are rebuilding their communities after the devastation of Hurricane Helene,” said Secretary Mullin. “I saw firsthand hurricane damage still present and will be making sure FEMA relief continues to help Americans rebuild their homes and communities. I am humbled and honored to serve the citizens of our great Homeland. Thanks for having me.”

Secretary Mullin’s first stop was Lake Lure – a cornerstone of the local economy and tourism – where he met with Mayor Pro Tem David DiOrio. FEMA Public Assistance funding is helping restore the Lake Lure marina and recreational areas to draw visitors back to the region ahead of Memorial Day. More than 1.2 million cubic yards of waterway debris have been removed, U.S. Route 64 repairs are nearing completion, and the refilling of the lake is underway – strong signs of recovery and a rebound in tourism.

Secretary Mullin’s next stop was Chimney Rock Village where he met with Sen. Budd and local leaders at the Chimney Rock Volunteer Fire Station, hosting a roundtable to hear their recovery stories. Mullin highlighted the recent buyout program – providing more than $26 million in FEMA hazard mitigation funding to buy out 75 severely damaged homes in Henderson, Polk and Yancey counties. He emphasized that this is an important first step to help families move forward and reduce future flood risk. In closing, Mullin reaffirmed his commitment to working with federal, state and local partners to cut red tape to expedite the community’s long-term recovery efforts.

In Chimney Rock, Mayor Peter O’Leary guided Secretary Mullin along Main Street, highlighting the community’s resilience. They stopped at a local coffee shop, where Secretary Mullin and the group enjoyed a selection of local ice cream and spoke with business owners about the town’s progress and recovery. The small mountain town, home to fewer than 150 residents, suffered significant losses as Hurricane Helene wiped out much of the community. A FEMA-funded temporary wastewater treatment system restored sewer service and allowed 15 businesses to reopen. Mayor O’Leary’s own establishment, Bubba O’Leary’s General Store, reopened last fall, almost a year after the storm.

To date, FEMA has provided more than $5 billion to support North Carolina’s recovery, including more than $1.4 billion for 2,300 recovery projects like debris removal, rebuilding critical infrastructure and other storm-related damage to public property. More than $564.2 million has been awarded to roughly 161,000 families to help with home repairs, rent and other critical needs. Approximately $66.2 million under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is helping fund recovery work that will reduce future disaster losses in North Carolina.

FEMA will continue to work closely with the state of North Carolina and federal partners to ensure communities have the support they need to move recovery forward.

amy.ashbridge Wed, 04/08/2026 - 17:02

FEMA Funds $26 Million for Buyout of 75 Homes in North Carolina, Opening New Path Forward for Hurricane Helene Recovery

amy.ashbridge — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:33:22 +0000

FEMA Funds $26 Million for Buyout of 75 Homes in North Carolina, Opening New Path Forward for Hurricane Helene Recovery

Relief Arrives: 75 Families Can Move Forward, and Communities Can Reduce Future Disaster Risk

WASHINGTON -- Today, FEMA awarded more than $26 million to eliminate flood risks for severely damaged properties in North Carolina. The state will use this funding, administered through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, to buy 75 damaged residential properties in Henderson, Polk and Yancey counties, bringing needed relief to the homeowners. FEMA is acting at the direction of the new Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, who has brought a renewed sense of urgency to the pending buyout requests.

These buyouts are critical for individuals who survived the storms but whose homes were permanently damaged by floods or landslides. After a disaster, homeowners are often still required to pay mortgages, property taxes and other expenses on their homes even if they are unlivable. By buying the properties from the homeowners, state and local officials lessen the financial burden on these survivors and ensure that the community is more resilient to future flood damage. In addition to the 75 buyouts announced today, Secretary Mullin also instructed FEMA to clear the remaining backlog of buyout requests and expedite approvals to the greatest extent possible.

“Under Secretary Mullin’s empowering leadership, FEMA is taking swift, decisive action to help survivors,” said Senior Official Performing the Duties of the FEMA Administrator, Karen S. Evans. “The funding announced today will make a real difference for recovering communities, but our work is not finished. Secretary Mullin has further encouraged us to redouble our efforts to help the survivors who are still waiting for assistance. FEMA will continue working with our partners in North Carolina until every pending project is resolved.”

Funding announced today will pay for the acquisition of homes located in the following North Carolina communities:

53 homes damaged by flood landslides in the Burnsville and Green Mountain communities in Yancey County.
18 homes damaged by floods in the Fletcher, Gerton and Hendersonville communities in Henderson County.
Four homes damaged by floods in the Tryon and Saluda communities in Polk County.

FEMA expects to award more funding for property buyouts acquisitions in the weeks ahead. Many pending applications were severely stalled last year because of an eligibility issue: state-planned road repair work on or near the properties meant they did not meet federal acquisition standards set forth in regulation. This is just one example of how red tape impacts survivors and delays recovery.

Now under new leadership, FEMA is redoubling its efforts to find a creative solution to administrative and regulatory challenges. Last week, FEMA finalized a plan to address properties impacted by road construction and shared next steps with the state of North Carolina. FEMA will continue to work with North Carolina Emergency Management and the North Carolina Department of Transportation to bring resolution to each of these pending properties.

FEMA is reimbursing these costs at 75% federal share. Federally funded hazard mitigation projects include efforts like restoring natural floodplains; strengthening critical facilities like hospitals and wastewater treatment plants; improving drainage; and buying high-risk homes to demolish them or move them to higher, safer ground.

FEMA continues reviewing additional projects to acquire flood-prone properties and remove them as flood-related threats. This additional funding announcement follows the March 2026 efforts where FEMA obligated $66 million for hazard mitigation projects in North Carolina, including more than $47 million for 150 property buyouts.

amy.ashbridge Mon, 04/06/2026 - 17:33

FEMA Supports Survivors at SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Bethel

anna.gonzalez — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:05:47 +0000

FEMA Supports Survivors at SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Bethel

ANCHORAGE, Alaska –FEMA will now support survivors from SBA’s Bethel Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC). Alaskan residents impacted by the October severe storms, flooding and remnants of Typhoon Halong can connect with FEMA staff to answer questions about their application, upload required documents and receive further guidance.

Bethel DLOC – Bethel City Hall – Meeting Rm.
300 Chief Eddie Hoffman Hwy.
Bethel, AK 99559
Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Alaskans may also get on-site assistance with their FEMA application from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at:

Aspen Suites Hotel Anchorage North
624 Rodeo Place
Room 141
Anchorage, AK 99508

Survivors are strongly encouraged to apply for both the State of Alaksa and FEMA Individual Assistance programs to maximize recovery benefits. Eligible survivors may get assistance with disaster-related needs such as subsistence equipment, snowmachines, stove oil, all-terrain vehicles, rental expenses, home repairs, vehicle damage, medical expenses, moving and storage and reimbursement for temporary housing.

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Follow FEMA Region 10 on X and LinkedIn for the latest updates and visit FEMA.gov for more information.

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters.

anna.gonzalez Fri, 04/03/2026 - 18:05

FEMA’s 47th Anniversary Overshadowed by Democrats Shutdown as Disaster Relief Fund Nears Depletion

amy.ashbridge — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:28:47 +0000

FEMA’s 47th Anniversary Overshadowed by Democrats Shutdown as Disaster Relief Fund Nears Depletion

WASHINGTON -- As FEMA observes its 47th anniversary, the agency’s ability to carry out its mission is increasingly at risk due to a drastic depletion of the Disaster Relief Fund during the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Since the Democrats refused to fund DHS, FEMA has operated for 48 days without its annual funding, and the Disaster Relief Fund - the primary source of federal money for disaster response and recovery - is running dangerously low.

“With each passing day of the funding lapse, the capacity to support disaster survivors and communities becomes more constrained,” said Senior Official Performing the Duties of the FEMA Administrator, Karen S. Evans. “The Disaster Relief Fund is critical to FEMA’s ability to respond quickly when disaster strikes and to help communities rebuild stronger. We urge Democrats in Congress to put the American people first and fund DHS.”

With hurricane season, wildfire season, and major national events like the FIFA World Cup and America 250 approaching, FEMA’s ability to prepare and coordinate is severely limited without full funding. The impacts of this funding lapse are already being felt across the country, and if the Disaster Relief Fund is fully depleted, the consequences will become even more severe.

Impacts of the Funding Lapse on FEMA and the American People

The ongoing funding lapse is already having serious consequences for FEMA’s operations, workforce, and the communities we serve. Below are some of the most significant impacts currently being felt across the country:

Reduced Disaster Readiness and Training: FEMA’s ability to prepare for hurricanes, wildfires, and major events like the FIFA World Cup is limited. Each week, approximately 45,000 students—including emergency managers, firefighters, and EMTs—are missing out on critical FEMA training. The Center for Domestic Preparedness and the National Fire Academy have postponed all classes, delaying essential leadership and incident management training and making it harder for communities to prepare for and respond to emergencies.
Strained Workforce: More than 4,000 FEMA employees are not receiving pay—including over 1,600 working without pay and more than 2,400 furloughed. Many have missed three full paychecks, and this week marks the second time rent and mortgage payments are due during the shutdown.
State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Impact: The funding lapse puts additional strain on state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, forcing difficult choices and limiting their ability to respond to and recover from disasters.
Economic Consequences: Delays in disaster reimbursements and recovery projects ripple through local economies, affecting small businesses and jobs, especially in hard-hit areas.
Long-Term Resilience at Risk: Paused mitigation and resilience programs mean communities are less prepared for future disasters, potentially increasing the cost and impact of future events.
Limited Public Services: The National Flood Insurance Program is operating under significant limitations. Customer improvements and flood map updates are postponed, public awareness campaigns are on hold, and international coordination is delayed as key teams are furloughed.
Operational Risks: FEMA is operating with limited system maintenance, software licensing, and contract-supported cybersecurity monitoring, increasing risk to disaster response, grants administration, and flood insurance services.

Impacts on FEMA and the American People if the Disaster Relief Fund is Depleted

If the Democrats in Congress do not act and the Disaster Relief Fund reaches full depletion, the consequences will become even more severe, including:

FEMA will stop funding non-lifesaving/life-sustaining disaster recovery efforts.
Disaster reimbursements to states and local governments will stop.
Non-life-saving mission assignments, field operations, and surge staffing will halt.
FEMA will be unable to pay staff or cover operational costs, halting response to major disasters and security incidents.
FEMA's ability to coordinate federal consequence management after catastrophic incidents, including terrorist attacks, will not be available.
Over 10,000 mission-essential FEMA employees and more than 1,000 deployed reservists will be ordered to stop working, with no pay or back pay for time missed due to funding interruptions.

To continue accomplishing its mission and to ensure that communities are not left without critical federal support in the face of future disasters, FEMA urges Congress to take swift action to pass the necessary appropriations and restore the Disaster Relief Fund. Timely Congressional action is essential for FEMA to continue protecting and serving the American people.

amy.ashbridge Thu, 04/02/2026 - 14:28

One More Day to Apply for Disaster Assistance

anna.gonzalez — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:46:32 +0000

One More Day to Apply for Disaster Assistance

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The deadline to apply for disaster assistance is Friday, April 3, 2026. Survivors affected by the severe storms, flooding and remnants of Typhoon Halong on Oct. 8-13, 2025, today is the last day to apply for disaster assistance for the State of Alaska and FEMA Individual Assistance, as well as SBA assistance, Survivors have until 11:59 p.m. local time, on the deadline.

The deadline is only for applying. it is not the deadline for home inspection. FEMA will continue scheduling home inspections beyond the application period ends.

Survivors who have already registered can continue submitting paperwork, file appeals, and update their applications into their FEMA account.

As of April 2, FEMA has approved $45 million in federal individual assistance for 2,447 households.

Eligible survivors may receive assistance with disaster-related needs such as subsistence equipment, snowmachines, stove oil, all-terrain vehicles, rental expenses, home repairs, vehicle damage, medical expenses, moving and storage, and reimbursement for temporary housing.

To Apply for State Individual Assistance
State designated areas include North Slope Borough, Northwest Arctic Borough, Bering Straits Regional Education Attendance Area (REAA), Lower Yukon REAA, Yupiit REAA, Lower Kuskokwim REAA, Kashunamiut REAA, and Pribilof Islands REAA.

Visit https://ready.alaska.gov/IA.
Call 1-844-445-7131 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

To Apply for FEMA Individual Assistance
FEMA designated areas include: Northwest Arctic Borough, Lower Yukon Regional Education Attendance Area (REAA), Lower Kuskokwim REAA, Kashunamiut REAA, Yupiit REAA and the City of Saint Mary’s.

Call the FEMA Alaska Call Center at 1-866-342-1699 from 8:30 a.m. -5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
**If you need a reasonable accommodation, contact the Alaska Call Center.
Register on DisasterAssistance.gov.
Use the FEMA App.

Small Business Administration
The SBA offers low-interest, long-term disaster loans to eligible homeowners and renters to repair or replace their home or personal property not covered by insurance or other assistance. Businesses and nonprofits can also apply for physical damage loans -- including loss of income.

For more information call 1-800-659-2955, apply online at sba.gov/disaster or visit one of the two Disaster Loan Outreach Centers, located at the Bethel City Hall at 300 Chief Eddie Hoffman Hwy., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or at the University of Alaska at 1901 Bragaw St., Anchorage, AK 99508, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The deadline to apply for physical damage is April 3, 2026.

After the deadline, survivors who have already applied for a loan may continue submitting required documentation, request reconsideration, and update their information through their SBA portal.

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FEMA is committed to ensuring disaster assistance is accomplished impartially, without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. Any disaster survivor or member of the public may contact the FEMA Civil Rights Office if they feel that they have a complaint of discrimination. FEMA’s Civil Rights Office can be contacted FEMA-OCR-ECRD@fema.dhs.gov or toll-free at 833-285-7448.

Follow FEMA Region 10 on X and LinkedIn for the latest updates and visit FEMA.gov for more information.

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters.

anna.gonzalez Thu, 04/02/2026 - 17:46

FEMA Announces Additional $103 Million for North Carolina

amy.ashbridge — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:24:56 +0000

FEMA Announces Additional $103 Million for North Carolina

WASHINGTON – Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, FEMA announced more than $103 million for North Carolina recovery efforts.

The additional federal funding is for over 50 Public Assistance projects to support North Carolina’s recovery from Tropical Storm Helene and Hurricane Florence and to help repair and protect critical infrastructure across the state.

“President Trump has made it clear that North Carolina will not be left to shoulder this recovery alone,” said Senior Official Performing the Duties of the FEMA Administrator, Karen S. Evans. “This additional funding is a tangible sign of that commitment. I want to thank U.S. Sen. Tedd Budd and U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards for their fierce advocacy on behalf of Western North Carolina. Working closely with state and local partners, FEMA and DHS are laser focused on getting resources where they are needed the most in Western North Carolina.”

“I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Mullin for their partnership and their continued efforts to support Western North Carolina communities that are still working to clean up and rebuild after Hurricane Helene,” said Budd. “Ensuring Public Assistance funds are approved and disbursed quickly means more projects — like removing debris, reopening schools, and repairing roads — can move forward. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress, the State of North Carolina, and local officials so that families and small businesses across our mountain communities can continue their recovery.”

“Communities across Western North Carolina are still rebuilding after Hurricane Helene, and the job isn’t finished,” said Edwards. “These reimbursements are critical, especially for rural counties like Avery. I’m grateful for President Trump, Secretary Mullin and Senator Budd's continued partnership as we rebuild our region, and I will keep pushing to ensure these funds move quickly and reach the communities that need them most.”

Public Assistance reimburses state and local governments and eligible nonprofit applicants for emergency work, such as debris removal and emergency protective measures that reduced immediate threats to life, public health, safety and property during and immediately after the storms. It also supports permanent repairs and replacement of damaged roads and bridges, water control facilities, public buildings such as schools, parks and other public facilities.

Among the largest FEMA grants recently obligated to the state and communities are:

Watauga County Schools – Valle Crucis School: $26.1 million to replace the Valle Crucis School building, which was severely damaged by floodwaters from Tropical Storm Helene, ensuring pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade students and staff can return to a safe, modern facility.
Haywood County – Debris removal: $12.5 million to reimburse the county for debris removal from waterways after Helene, including vegetative and construction debris, reducing immediate threats to public health and safety and helping restore safe conditions for residents.
French Broad Electric Membership Corporation – Capitola Dam: $7.3 million to repair the Capitola Dam and associated structures damaged by Helene’s flooding, restoring the facility’s power-generating capabilities and protecting key electrical infrastructure.
Avery County – Debris removal: $6.2 million to reimburse countywide debris removal from non-navigable waterways following Helene, reducing immediate threats to public health and safety and helping restore safe conditions for residents.
Town of North Topsail Beach – Engineered beach restoration: $6 million to reimburse sand replacement and dune vegetation work that restored an engineered beach system damaged by Hurricane Florence’s storm surge, heavy rain and wave action.
North Carolina Department of Transportation – State Route 197 repairs: $4.8 million to repair multiple washed-out segments along State Route 197 in Mitchell County after Helene, including restoring the road base, pavement and culverts and adding erosion-control measures to help reduce future damage.

For Helene-related projects, FEMA is reimbursing these costs at no less than 90% federal cost share through its Public Assistance Program, which provides funds for state and local governments response and recovery work. The remaining share is covered by non-federal sources.

Prior to today’s announcement, more than $5.3 billion has been provided to North Carolina for recovery efforts, and additional approved funding will continue to support rebuilding in the affected areas. FEMA has paid nearly $564.2 million in grants to survivors to directly help families recover.

amy.ashbridge Wed, 04/01/2026 - 17:24

Bethel Assistance Hub to Close March 31

anna.gonzalez — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:20:25 +0000

Bethel Assistance Hub to Close March 31

ANCHORAGE, Alaska –The Bethel Assistance Hub (BAH) at the AVCP Tugkar Building will close Monday, March 30, in observance of Seward’s Day. The BAH will resume normal hours Tuesday, March 31, then permanently close March 31 at 4 p.m.

Bethel Assistance Hub (BAH)
AVCP Tugkar Building
570 3rd Ave.
Bethel, AK 99559

After the BAH closes, survivors can continue to connect with FEMA staff through FEMA’s Alaska Call Center at 1-866-342-1699 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, to answer questions about their application and receive further guidance, even after the Bethel Assistance Hub closes.

In-person survivors’ support is available to register for State and FEMA Individual Assistance and apply for SBA disaster loans; upload required documents and get answers to questions. Alaskans may get on-site assistance at one location in Anchorage, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays:

Aspen Suites Hotel
624 Rodeo Place
Room 141
Anchorage, AK 99508

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Follow FEMA Region 10 on X and LinkedIn for the latest updates and visit FEMA.gov for more information.

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters.

anna.gonzalez Mon, 03/30/2026 - 17:20

One Week Left to Apply for Disaster Assistance

anna.gonzalez — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:11:32 +0000

One Week Left to Apply for Disaster Assistance

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The deadline to apply for disaster assistance is Friday, April 3, 2026. FEMA encourages survivors affected by severe storms, flooding and remnants of Typhoon Halong Oct. 8-13, 2025, to apply for State of Alaska and FEMA Individual Assistance, as well as SBA assistance, before the deadline.

After the deadline, survivors who have already registered can continue submitting paperwork, file appeals and update information into their FEMA account.

As of March 27, FEMA has approved $42.6 million in federal individual assistance for 2,403 households.

Apply for State Individual Assistance
State designated areas include: North Slope Borough, Northwest Arctic Borough, Bering Straits Regional Education Attendance Area (REAA), Lower Yukon REAA, Yupiit REAA, Lower Kuskokwim REAA, Kashunamiut REAA, and Pribilof Islands REAA.

Visit https://ready.alaska.gov/IA
Call 1-844-445-7131 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

To Apply for FEMA Individual Assistance:
FEMA designated areas include: Northwest Arctic Borough, Lower Yukon Regional Education Attendance Area (REAA), Lower Kuskokwim REAA, Kashunamiut REAA, Yupiit REAA and the City of Saint Mary’s.

Call the FEMA Alaska Call Center at 1-866-342-1699 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday **If you need reasonable accommodation, contact the Alaska Call Center.
Register on DisasterAssistance.gov.
Use the FEMA App.
Visit the Bethel Assistance Hub, 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, located at AVCP Tugkar Building, 570 3rd Ave.
The hub will close permanently, Tuesday, March 31.

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Follow FEMA Region 10 on X and LinkedIn for the latest updates and visit FEMA.gov for more information.

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters.

anna.gonzalez Fri, 03/27/2026 - 18:11

FEMA Sets the Record Straight on Vendor’s False Claims Regarding Community Resilience Program

amy.ashbridge — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:34:24 +0000

FEMA Sets the Record Straight on Vendor’s False Claims Regarding Community Resilience Program

FEMA Will Continue to Administer its Community Rating System Program and Deliver Cost Savings to Flood Insurance Policyholders

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today released the following statement correcting the record on inaccurate claims by a third-party vendor about the Community Rating System program. This vendor falsely asserted that FEMA’s Community Rating System program no longer has the resources necessary to operate. The truth is that FEMA remains steadfastly committed to managing its Community Rating System program and helping communities lower their flood risk.

“It is deeply unfortunate that this vendor has chosen to convey false information and unnecessarily confuse state and local community leaders,” said FEMA Spokesperson, Victoria Barton. “Let us set the record straight: FEMA has no plans to pause or terminate the Community Rating System program, and FEMA will continue to support communities seeking to reduce their flood risk. FEMA is moving forward to deliver a more streamlined program that provides the same benefits to American communities with greater efficiencies.”

FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS) program incentivizes communities to implement advanced floodplain management practices by offering flood insurance premium discounts. Since this program was established over 30 years ago, it steadily grew more complicated, more expensive and more burdensome on American communities. This stops now. Under President Trump’s leadership, FEMA is focused on cutting red tape, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and empowering American communities to strengthen their resilience to disasters. As part of this effort, FEMA is exploring ways to streamline the Community Rating System process, reduce its administrative burden and ensure that it only incentivizes actions that substantively reduce flood risk and make communities safer. As FEMA considers potential improvements, CRS discounts, how to implement future enrollments and technical assistance services will continue.

FEMA’s contract decisions are based on improving oversight and efficiency, not reducing support for communities. As a responsible steward of taxpayer money, FEMA will continue to conduct basic due diligence reviews on all contracts.

amy.ashbridge Thu, 03/26/2026 - 21:34