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National Disaster

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Alaska Earthquake 2018

Alaska Earthquake 2018

EARTHQUAKE HELP FOR PEOPLE IN ALASKA

Disaster Legal Hotline: 1-855-743-1001

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck areas near Anchorage on November 30, 2018. On January 31, 2019, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Alaska to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected during this period. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. People in the following areas are eligible to receive federal disaster assistance. Additional areas may be designated later. 

  • Anchorage
  • Kenai Peninsula
  • Matanuska-Susitna 

For DR-4413, assistance for affected individuals and families is available and people are urged to apply through FEMA.

Disaster Number: 4413

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

Registration with FEMA for Disaster Assistance Monday, April 1, 2019
Disaster Unemployment Assistance  Thursday, March 14, 2019
Appeal Your FEMA Decision Within 60 days of the date on the determination letter


Key resources for those impacted by this disaster

GOVERNMENT DISASTER RELIEF BENEFITS

Residents and businesses affected by this disaster can apply for government disaster relief benefits in several ways:

  • Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
  • On the FEMA Mobile App,
  • Text “DRC” and a zip code to 43362 (4FEMA) to locate a Disaster Recovery Center in your area (standard message and data rates apply), or by
  • Calling 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available. Press 2 for Spanish and press 3 for other languages. Deadline to apply with FEMA is Monday, April 1, 2019. 
  • For official news and press releases related to this disaster, please visit FEMA's News & Updates section. 
  • Note: Apply to FEMA to trigger the SBA Disaster loan process.
  • Download this quick guide for an overview on the disaster assistance process.
  • Disaster Unemployment Assistance available to workers affected by earthquake - Workers whose source of income has been affected by the November 2018 earthquake may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits if they are self-employed or are not eligible for the state’s regular unemployment insurance program.
    • Applicants may be eligible for up to $370 per week for up to 35 weeks beginning the week of Dec. 2, 2018.
    • Individuals living in the impacted areas and were affected by the earthquake can apply for benefits by calling (888) 252-2557 or (907) 269-4700 Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
    • Applications for DUA must be submitted by March 14, 2019. 
    • For official information and updates, click here. 

LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES

  • A TOLL-FREE LEGAL AID HOTLINE is now available for survivors who cannot pay for an attorney:
    • CALL 1-(855) 743-1001 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday 
    • Click here for the full press release. Individuals who qualify for assistance will be matched with a lawyer who has volunteered to provide free legal limited assistance.
    • Callers are to leave a message where they will receive a call back within 24 to 48 hours. 
  • For legal assistance and other disaster recovery information, you can visit:  
    • Alaska Free Legal Answers - Ask volunteer attorneys a specific question about your civil legal issue. 
    • Alaska Bar Association - Visit resources for the public here. 
    • Alaska Legal Services Corporation (Anchorage Office) 
    • Alaska Law Help - AlaskaLawHelp is a guide to civil legal services and resources for low-income persons and seniors in Alaska.  This site provides information on various free and low-cost legal programs in Alaska, including basic eligibility and contact information. 
    • United Policyholders - United Policyholders specializes in helping disaster survivors with insurance claim issues. 
    • ABA Disaster Legal Services Program: Through the Disaster Legal Services Program, the ABA Young Lawyers Division (ABA-YLD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provide immediate temporary legal assistance to disaster survivors at no charge. Please visit their page for other disaster recovery resources. 
  • If you need to appeal a FEMA denial on your own, please see here to get an interactive form to appeal and letter requesting a copy of your file.

OTHER RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP

ARE YOU AN ATTORNEY WHO CAN HELP? 

  • The Alaska State Bar has information available for volunteers here.