Preliminary flood numbers: 823 homes damaged, 14 destroyed

MAT-SU — The Mat-Su Borough’s flood response has all but officially morphed into a recovery operation, with crews taking to the skies to survey damage.

“Rough estimates to date indicate 823 residences have been damaged: of that number 14 residences were destroyed,” says the latest borough update, sent out Wednesday morning.

The borough says the state’s Disaster Assistance Program also will open disaster assistance centers next week for people who need help with recovery. A schedule is below.

The Yentna River, the only borough river still running higher than normal according to the federal river tracking website, had dropped 18 inches as of that update.

The borough expects the weather has cleared and floods won’t return, but is ready to respond as necessary.

Meanwhile, the Alaska Railroad, which lost 500 of embankment during the flooding, said it had re-opened the track and resumed freight service as of Tuesday evening.

The railroad said that the washout, combined with other damage like mudslides and other washed out spots combined to cost the corporation $2 million in repairs.

“Additional cost estimates for responding to operational interruptions and revenue lost due to suspended train operations will be available later this week, and are expected to be substantial,” says a railroad press release.

Also, the Red Cross, which had four emergency shelters open in the borough at the height of flooding, was down to just the Willow Community Center, which it planned to close at 3 p.m. Wednesday, according to the borough update.

Schedule of disaster assistance centers:

Oct. 4 and 5, Butte Fire Station

Oct. 8 and 9, Willow (location TBA)

Oct. 11 and 12 at the Cottonwood Public Safety Building in Wasilla

All centers are open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. To speed up the process, residents are asked, if they can, to bring documentation including “rental agreements, receipts for items purchased to replace damaged items, photos and other proofs of ownership,” according to a borough press release.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.