Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery - 2022 Typhoon Merbok - FEMA Disaster #4672

* The State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED) is administering the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery for the 2022 Typhoon Merbok. * The grant allocation is $38,493,000, with a minimum of $30,794,400 to be expended in HUD-identified "most impacted and distressed" areas. * The program aims to rebuild Alaskan communities by putting Alaskans back in their homes, restoring critical infrastructure, and mitigating future damage through resilient community planning. * Key areas of focus include: 1. Resilience Planning: hazard risk assessment, identifying safe areas for new housing, and ensuring connectivity to transportation, schools, and essential services. 2. Watershed Management: balancing the effects of disasters and managing flooding, seismic activity, and other risks. 3. Natural Flood Protection: strategies like constructed wetlands and vegetated buffers. 4. Learning Tools of the Trade: training and learning from local government officials, businesses, or nonprofit organizations. 5. Home Retrofits: updates and fortifications to reduce risks during severe weather and flooding. * The program will implement a robust Public Engagement Process to refine data related to unmet needs resulting from the impacts of Typhoon Merbok. * Eligible activities include State Administration, State and Local Planning, Resilience and Mitigation, Public Services, Housing Recovery, Public Infrastructure Recovery, and Economic Revitalization.