ANCHORAGE -- FEMA so far has given nearly $1 million to 69 Alaska households hammered by this spring's historic flooding along the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers, and this week added more towns and villages to the list of communities eligible for money.

The town of Eagle, just west of the Canadian border, was one of the hardest-hit when the Yukon flooding began in late April and early May.

"FEMA leadership came to Eagle today and met with all of the 13 homeowners that are in need of having a new home built and gave the go ahead on funding and settling personal claims," Andy Bassich, coordinator of the Eagle Rebuilding Construction Team, wrote in an e-mail Wednesday night.

At the state's request, President Obama declared the flooding a federal disaster on June 11. But the early declaration didn't include some of the communities hit by the later rounds of flooding as the break-up fronts moved down the rivers.

On Wednesday, FEMA added Lower Yukon communities such as Emmonak, Russian Mission and Kotlik to the list of places where people can apply for federal money to repair damage to their homes or replace items lost in the flood, according to the state. Want the whole story?