Rain and strong winds were predicted for the Alaska coast on Wednesday following the impact of Typhoon Halong, which caused severe damage to two villages, resulting in over 1,500 residents being displaced and in need of shelter. The storm over the weekend brought high winds and storm surges that particularly affected the low-lying Alaska Native communities along the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in the southwest part of the state, approximately 800 kilometers away from Anchorage.
Tragically, one person lost their life, and two individuals were reported missing. The Coast Guard conducted rescue operations, saving two dozen people whose homes had been swept out to sea. Many displaced residents sought refuge in school shelters, although some lacked basic facilities like functioning toilets.
Following the recent storm in western Alaska, over 1,500 people were displaced across the region. Numerous individuals were transported to a shelter established in the National Guard armory in Bethel, a city with a population of 6,000. Officials were considering further evacuations to provide longer-term shelter or emergency housing in Fairbanks and Anchorage.
The most severely affected communities included Kipnuk, with a population of 715, and Kwigillingok, with a population of 380. These communities, off the state’s main road system, are accessible only by water or air during this time of the year.
Mark Roberts, incident commander with the state emergency management division, described the situation in Kipnuk as “catastrophic,” emphasizing the urgent need for support. Residents like Brea Paul from Kipnuk shared harrowing experiences of witnessing homes floating away and the challenges of community members coming together to navigate the crisis.
In Kwigillingok, one fatality was reported, and the search for two missing individuals was called off. The local school, the only facility with full power, housed around 400 people overnight, despite lacking operational toilets.
Significant damage was reported in various communities, including flooded power systems in Napakiak, severe erosion in Toksook Bay, and fuel drums floating in Nightmute. The National Guard was mobilized to support emergency response efforts, delivering essential supplies during breaks in the weather.
Officials emphasized the long road to recovery ahead for the hardest-hit communities, stressing the need for sustained assistance. The resilience of Alaska’s Indigenous communities was recognized, but the extensive damage caused by the storm, exacerbated by climate change, poses significant challenges for rebuilding and recovery efforts.
Experts highlighted the role of warming Pacific Ocean waters due to human-caused climate change in intensifying storms like Typhoon Halong. The devastating impact of past storms, such as Typhoon Merbok three years ago, serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of Alaska’s coastal communities to extreme weather events.
