Governor Dunleavy Amends Disaster Declaration to Support West Coast Storm RecoveryGovernor Dunleavy Amends Disaster Declaration to Support West Coast Storm RecoveryContinue Reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has issued an amendment to the Disaster Declaration for communities impacted by the series of powerful fall storms affecting Western and Northern Alaska.

The original declaration suspended certain state permitting and land-use requirements to ensure emergency response, repairs, and debris removal could proceed without delay. Amendment 1 expands those measures to include the suspension of state fees associated with replacing necessary documentation such as licenses and registrations and waives late fees for state-administered loan and payment programs for Alaskans impacted by the disaster.

The suspensions established under this amendment do not apply to any provision where suspension would create a violation of federal law or a violation of a requirement for the provision of federal emergency funding.

"By suspending additional administrative and fee-related requirements, we are removing obstacles that could slow down recovery. Alaskans should be able to focus on rebuilding without unnecessary financial or bureaucratic burdens," Governor Dunleavy said.

The declaration and amendment apply to the Kashunamiut, Lower Yukon, Yupitt, Pribilof Island, Iditarod Area, Lower Kuskokwim, and Bering Strait Regional Educational Attendance Areas (REAAs); the Yukon-Koyukuk REAA; the City of Galena; the Northwest Arctic Borough; and the North Slope Borough.

Both the original Declaration and Amendment 1 carry the full force of law for the duration of the disaster emergency.