Sam and Amanda Hatch say they’ve filled out the online assistance application forms after the crawl space of their home was filled with eight inches of water during record flooding from Suicide Basin earlier this month. But plenty of unknowns about paperwork and process prompted them to be among the first to show up Monday at an in-person disaster assistance center open through Wednesday.
“We came to see what else is happening because we heard a whole lot of things from a whole lot of organizations,” Amanda Hatch said between conferring with state and local officials in a meeting room near the main entrance to the Mendenhall Valley Public Library, where about ten people showed up during the first hour after the center opened at noon.
[Governor requests FEMA assessment of Suicide Basin flood damage]
Many of the people visiting the in-person assistance center have similarly applied online for assistance after Gov. Mike Dunleavy declared the Aug. 5 flood to be a state disaster three days later, said Mike Macans, an individual assistance branch chief for the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Dozens of homes were destroyed, condemned or sustained significant damage.
“We ask for a lot of documents in the process,” he said. “You can email them, but for some people it can be easier to come by here.”
The city and nonprofits such as The Salvation Army are providing shorter-term assistance such as food vouchers and debris pickup, and the state is seeking federal disaster relief.
“If you need immediate help today I can help you,” said Carol Pitts, a volunteer for The Salvation Army in Juneau who was registering people coming to the assistance center.
The United Way of Southeast Alaska has also established an online form for people affected by the flood to identify disaster-related needs such as food, cleanup kits, and volunteers to help clean out muck or remove debris, according to Jeremy Zidek, a spokesperson for the state emergency management division. The online form also allows volunteers to offer goods and labor.
“A coalition of volunteer aid organizations will use this information to help match offered donations and volunteers with the flood survivors,” an announcement by the division published Monday states.
Cash donations are the most flexible assistance, according to the announcement. New or good-condition used household items such as linens and small appliances can be donated to The Salvation Army Juneau Thrift Store at 500 W. Willoughby Ave. Clothing is not cited as a need at this time.
The in-person disaster center at the library is scheduled to be open from noon-7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23. People can also apply online at ready.alaska.gov/Recovery/IA or call (844) 445-7131 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m–4 p.m.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
