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FAIRBANKS - Damage assessments of hundreds of homes are moving forward after Gov. Sarah Palin declared flooding across much of northern and Interior Alaska a disaster.

She made the declaration Monday in Fairbanks.

The declaration frees the state to use disaster-recovery programs to help repair homes, buildings and roads hit by the flooding.

Officials said flooding stretched across the Tanana River basin to hit cities and villages as far away as the North Slope Borough.

The Alaska Railroad said it was operating freight on its lines, and full passenger service was expected back this afternoon.