Western Alaska Fisheries Disaster

Joint Public Information Center

PO Box 5800, Camp Denali Fort Richardson, Alaska 99505-5800

(907) 428-6031

FEDERALLY FUNDED DISASTER ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

New funding now available for Western Alaska Fisheries Disaster victims

CAMP DENALI, Alaska --- The Alaska Division of Emergency Services (DES) is now taking applications for federal assistance from people affected by the Western Alaska Fisheries Disaster. Disaster victims may apply over the helpline, 1-888-388-3473, from Feb. 19 through Apr. 20, 1999.

"Funding for the new program was made available through a 1999 spending bill for the U.S. Department of Agriculture," said Kerre Martineau, DES public information officer. "People whose family income falls below Federal poverty guidelines may apply for either Commercial Fishing Disaster Assistance or Subsistence Fishing Disaster assistance," added Martineau.

People who may be eligible to receive the assistance include:

	Commercial Salmon Fishing Permit Holders in the disaster area, who held and utilized the permit between January 1, 1997 and July 30, 1998.
	Commercial Salmon Fishing Crew License Holders who purchased the license between January 1, 1997 and July 30, 1998 AND whose employer holds a Commercial Salmon Fishing permit for the disaster area.
	Cannery Workers/ Processors who worked for a salmon cannery / processing plant in the disaster area during the 1998 fishing season OR worked for a salmon cannery / processing plant in 1997 and was unemployed in 1998 due to the disaster.
	Subsistence users of Yukon River drainage salmon stocks in 1998 who caught or received less than half the salmon they or their family usually eats because of the low salmon runs. (Subsistence users must be residents of the declared subsistence villages to be eligible for this program)