Relief plans solidify for McKinley Fire

As the McKinley Fire gets closer to full containment, multiple governmental and non-profit groups are organizing short and long-term relief for those impacted by the fire.

At an informational meeting on Wednesday night, the state’s Disaster Assistance Program Manager, Sam Walton, laid out a tentative schedule for in-person consultations with fire survivors who plan to file for the state’s individual disaster assistance program.  The program is designed mostly to cover short-term needs, and can also provide temporary housing assistance.  Walton says the current plan is to have state representatives at the Upper Susitna Senior Center and the Methodist church in Willow beginning September 4^th from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. The online application for individual assistance is also expected to be available in the near future.

The Mat-Su Borough also has a process in place that allows property owners who lost structures to the fire to apply for re-assessment of their property for tax purposes.

The Red Cross also plans to have a continued presence in the area to assist those impacted by the fire.  Its volunteers are distributing relief supplies, including equipment to begin cleaning up damaged property, at three locations.  The Red Cross is also providing caseworkers to help affected residents with longer-term assistance options. Red Cross personnel are currently staging daily at the Upper Susitna Senior Center from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, Sheep Creek Lodge from noon to 7:00 pm, and the Menard Sports Complex from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

For those in need of hot meals, the Upper Susitna Food Pantry is serving breakfast and dinner at the senior center from 10:00 am to 11:00 am and 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm, respectively.  Food pantry executive director LouAnne Carroll-Tysdal says the organization is seeking volunteers to help with shifts in the kitchen.  The aid organization Southern Baptist Disaster Relief has also brought a trailer to the senior center equipped with a shower as well as a washer and dryer.

Food is also being distributed at the pantry on Wednesdays and Fridays on the normal schedule.  A separate pantry has also been set up at Sheep Creek Lodge by staff and volunteers.

Multiple aid organizations are coordinating to help provide long-term relief to fire survivors with help from large non-profits like the United Way.  In addition, many community members are offering and asking for support on local social media groups, including at least one created specifically for that purpose.

End dates for many of the services being provided have not yet been determined, and the organizations involved say they intend to continue providing relief as long as they are needed.  For both the state and borough programs, the application deadline is sixty days.