#AlaskaStrong

      Friday, November 30th was a harrowing morning to say the least. To say the most, we all came through it pretty well and I am feeling like a proud Alaskan these days. In the aftermath there were no deaths, no looting, no price gouging, and people came together as a community. I know I felt humble and grateful for every moment of outreach given and received. That said, we still need to be vigilant of aftershocks and on the lookout for damage. I know my heart was sent racing again yesterday morning (12/9/18) at about 10:00am when we had that 5.0 aftershock.  This is why I thought it best to send out everything I have accumulated over the last week (and in my years as a REALTOR® in Alaska) so that you all have the resources you need moving forward; whether you be friend, family, or client.    

Grants & Relief

Monday December 3rd, state officials released a statement that residents of Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and the Kenai Peninsula whose property was damaged by the November 30th earthquake may be eligible for funding to cover the cost of recovery.  Gov. Bill Walker put in place funding that will cover damages to homes, vehicles and essential personal property, as well as medical and dental expenses incurred because of the earthquake. If you have a home that was damaged or unlivable, whether homeowner or renter, you may also be eligible for state Individual Assistance Temporary Housing.

Residents can apply for a grant online at ready.alaska.gov, the deadline is January 29, 2019. An assistance hotline (1-855-445-7131) was also activated at 8 a.m. this morning (Tuesday) by the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. In-person registration may also become available, but the state has not specified when that might happen.

In addition the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Bean’s Café, Anchorage Animal Care & Control, and KEUL Glacier City Radio are providing relief and assistance of varying kinds. You can also contact them if you wish to volunteer your time or money. Visit adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage for more information.

  Structural Info, Inspectors, Tips & Resources

The biggest things of note when it comes to structural damage:

-        Are door openings and window openings are no longer square, or plumb?

-        Does the floor seem to be detached from supporting walls?

-        Do you see any large or new cracks in the foundation? Usually seen from walking the perimeter or on any exposed concrete floors.

-        Has something fallen from the chimney or parapet, inside or out?

-        Are your stairs as stable as they were before the earthquake?

-        Do you see any cracked beams or cracks in the foundation when looking in crawlspaces, basements, and attics?

If you are unsure whether or not you have structural damage, it may be best to consult an expert. As a REALTOR® I highly recommend calling or emailing:

Home Inspections Plus+  Troy Bloxom

Office: 694-7587

troy@homeinspectalaska.com

Quality Home Inspections  Kevin Jones

Office: 333-1719

qualhome@aol.com

Chimney-                                                                            Even if your chimney seems ok it would be best to have a professional inspect it prior to use. Any cracks or spaces in the smoke stack or fire back plates could lead to trouble. Any fire place with a gas start and/gas inserts should have their gas lines checked for damage as well.

chimneydoctorak.com

www.northcountrystoves.net

Heating-                                                                                 This is of course a must and best done by a professional. You will want to make sure flue vents and water heaters are in place, be mindful any water leaks, and make sure there is no damage to the gas shut off valve.

Discount Mechanical-227-3108/336-3100

discountmechanical.net/services

Muotka Mechanical -344-8825/441-0907

www.muotkamechanical.com/services

Sump Pumps-                                                                           If you have sump pumps check their position and test their electrical connections.

www.youtube.com/sumppump

or contact

sumppumpinstallpro.com

Well & Septic-                                                                          In some cases well or septic damage maybe obvious. However, even if there is no catastrophic failure, seismic activity can lead to contaminants in well water. It can also cause damage to septic tanks that may shorten it's life span or lead to other problems months even years later.  At a minimum, we recommend changing out the water filter on your whole system.

dec.alaska.gov

Gutters, showers, smoke & CO detectors-                          Although these are smaller items, they can become bigger problems if not addressed in a timely manner. If gutters have become detached or twisted it is best to repair and/or replace them before spring. That way future water damage will be at a minimum. Showers (and really anywhere you have grout, caulking and tile) should be checked for cracks, the tiniest crack can lead to water intrusion and eventually damage. Best to re-grout and caulk where needed, asap. Any smoke and CO detectors in the house should be checked to make sure they have not lost their hardwire connection (if they have one) or have not come loose all together. This would also be a good time to replace the batteries if you have not done so in the last year.

You can find more information visit FEMA or check out their video on youtube.

www.fema.gov/news-release/helpful-hints-how-spot-earthquake-damage

www.youtube.com/watch

Also good to note…

-Enstar, ML&P, Chugach Electric and MEA are still out checking meters. So if you see them roaming your yard thank them for their quick response to this disaster!

-The AWWU boil water advisory was lifted on Sunday the 2nd. Water main repairs are still underway, though nearing comletion, go to https://www.awwu.biz/ for more information.

-Gov Walker immediately asked for Federal Funds for disaster relief! As a result all of the damaged roads are already re-built!

Future Planning

    Emergency preparedness! Whether you call it a go bag, grab bag, bug out bag, 72-hours bag, or Zombie Apocalypse Kit; you should have one! More over you should have an Alaska specific one; winter wear, bear mace, etc. It should also be updated regularly, especially if you have any new additions to your family; including pets. The following links will help you start building your kit!

unchartedsupplyco.com

bugoutbagacademy.com

www.primalsurvivor.net

In addition you will want to have an emergency plan in place. Our muni website is a great place to start for Alaska specific emergency planning.

www.muni.org/Departments/OEM/Prepared/

   You are what makes our business great! 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding Real Estate in Anchorage, Eagle River or Chugiak, or if you are looking to buy or sell, please give us a call! 

Sara & Bill

907-351-4762          907-230-1414