4.7 Million Received by Alaska Legal Services Corporation for Natural Disaster Recovery

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) has declared a grant sum of $4,726,333 for the Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC) aimed at offering legal help to those of limited resources who faced the brunt of natural disasters in 2022.

Out of the nation’s organizations, ALSC is one of the 14 that have been identified for this grant award. Known as the leading financier for civil legal aid in the United States, LSC has received an additional $20 million through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. This act, approved by Congress, seeks to enhance the overall response to natural disasters.

After extreme weather incidents, those impacted often seek swift legal support to help with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and insurance claims. Additionally, they need guidance on landlord-tenant issues, obtaining unemployment advantages, and securing essential documents necessary for education and health benefits. The legal challenges arising from such disasters can persist for a long time. Situations involving FEMA disputes, insolvency, public accommodation, and domestic abuse instances can emerge. This makes those affected by disasters vulnerable to deceptive tactics and scams.

Ron Flagg, the LSC President, stated, “Disaster response involves more than mere physical mending. Numerous Americans learn this annually when their homes or loved ones face these devastating occurrences. Legal assistance professionals are central in helping impoverished families access vital services and resources, setting them on a recovery journey.”

The funds designated will be used by ALSC to form a joint disaster assistance resource center and a training system designed to support non-lawyer community justice workers (CJWs) in addressing twelve natural disaster episodes in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. These communities are catered to by ALSC, Montana Legal Services, Oklahoma Indian Legal Services, Anishinabe Legal Services, and DNA People’s Legal Services. ALSC will be at the forefront of this grant, with other legal aid entities acting as secondary grant recipients. The susceptibility of Alaska Native and American Indian communities to calamities is accentuated due to their elevated poverty levels, food challenges, and inferior housing relative to the nation’s average. In 2022, twelve significant disasters were proclaimed in the remote areas covered by the partner entities.

This grant will enable the hiring of fourteen full-time personnel for the project and foster the creation of digital training modules and an online training platform’s backing. The endeavor intends to offer immediate legal aid to impacted regions by establishing a cadre of local CJWs trained in disaster intervention.

Both Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Rep. Mary Sattler Peltola (D- AK, At-Large) conveyed their gratitude towards ALSC for procuring the grant and their central role in disaster assistance endeavors.

“The aftermath of Typhoon Merbok inflicted significant damage on numerous communities, leaving many Alaskan families grappling with financial challenges, insurance claims, housing issues, and more. This grant from the Legal Services Corporation is a positive development for the survivors of Typhoon Merbok in Alaska. The funding will furnish them with legal aid as they continue to recover from the detrimental effects of the typhoon,” stated Senator Murkowski.

“This grant designed to aid Typhoon Merbok survivors is heartening news. Merbok caused extensive damage amounting to millions of dollars in a region where resources are scarce and communication with federal agencies can be sluggish. Several Alaskans are still grappling with navigating the FEMA application and appeals processes, and this funding for legal assistance will significantly impact their lives. Alaska rallied to support the communities affected by the storm, and it remains crucial that we continue to do so until the damage is rectified,” Rep. Peltola said.