Western Alaska faces an arduous recovery after the remnants of Typhoon Halong unleashed hurricane-force winds and devastating storm surges, leaving one dead, two missing, and hundreds displaced amidst widespread destruction and the urgent threat of winter. This comprehensive guide unpacks the immediate human toll, extensive rescue operations, community resilience, and the critical long-term challenges of climate change and recovery.
The remote coastal communities of Western Alaska have been battered by the powerful remnants of what was once Typhoon Halong, bringing catastrophic winds and unprecedented flooding over the weekend. The storm’s impact has resulted in at least one fatality, two missing individuals, and the displacement of over a thousand residents, with officials warning of an “absolute devastation” and a long road to recovery as the harsh Alaskan winter rapidly approaches.
The Storm’s Relentless Fury: Winds, Water, and Widespread Damage
The storm, though no longer a tropical typhoon by the time it reached the Bering Sea, maintained immense power. It generated hurricane-force wind gusts exceeding 100 mph, with specific reports of 107 mph in Kusilvak and 100 mph in nearby Toksook Bay, according to the National Weather Service. These extreme winds, combined with a dangerous storm surge, pushed feet of water onto land, triggering major flooding in coastal areas.
The village of Kipnuk saw water levels soar to an astonishing 14.5 feet on Sunday, more than two feet above major flood stage and 1.5 feet above its previous record flood level set in 2000. This deluge was strong enough to sweep away entire homes and dislodge others from their foundations. Alaska State Troopers initially reported at least eight homes were pushed from their foundations, though later noted the overall number of impacted buildings was still being assessed.
The Human Toll: Casualties, Missing Persons, and Heroic Rescues
The storm’s devastating force claimed at least one life. An adult woman was found dead in the village of Kwigillingok on Monday, confirmed by the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Two people remain unaccounted for in Kwigillingok, officials said. While earlier reports suggested missing individuals in Kipnuk, Alaska State Troopers later confirmed that no one was missing in that community after further investigation.
Rescue operations were extensive and challenging. More than 50 people and two dogs were rescued from Kwigillingok and Kipnuk, with some individuals dramatically plucked from rooftops as floodwaters surrounded their homes. Approximately 1,400 people were displaced to shelters across the region, according to a local tribal health agency and state officials. These efforts involved significant resources from the Alaska Air National Guard, Alaska Army National Guard, and the US Coast Guard.
Maj. Gen. Torrence Saxe, who leads the state’s National Guard, described the response as the “largest [response] I’ve seen in quite some time,” with 60 to 80 soldiers on the ground by Monday and plans to increase to over 200 later in the week. US Coast Guard Capt. Christopher Culpepper characterized the situation in Kipnuk and Kwigillingok as “absolute devastation,” remarking that rescue images, with people being saved from rooftops, were reminiscent of Hurricane Katrina. “If you imagine the worst case scenario, that’s what we are dealing with,” he added, as reported by CNN.
Community Resilience and the Immediate Aftermath
Residents in affected communities demonstrated remarkable resilience. In both Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, most residents had sought shelter in local schools, coordinated by the nonprofit Coastal Villages Region Fund. In Napakiak, another hard-hit community, Jamie Jenkins, 42, described the storm as “the worst I’ve ever seen,” recounting howling winds and rapidly rising waters. She, her mother, and a neighbor evacuated by boat to the school when waters reached their top stairs, noting that “practically the whole community” was there, with men gathering boats to help others.
Adaline Pete from Kotlik also spoke of unprecedented winds, recalling an unoccupied house next door flipping over. Beyond immediate safety, communities face severe challenges: widespread power outages, a critical lack of running water, ruined subsistence foods stored in freezers, and damaged home-heating stoves. These impacts are particularly dire in remote communities where people rely on stored food from hunting and fishing to survive the long winter months, which are now just around the corner.
The Road Ahead: Recovery, Climate Resilience, and Future Preparedness
Alaskan officials have underscored the immense challenge of recovery. Gov. Mike Dunleavy expanded a state disaster declaration to encompass the storm-affected areas, pledging both short-term aid and long-term support for residents. The initial declaration had addressed damage from another powerful coastal storm earlier in the week, highlighting the recurring nature of such events.
The state’s congressional delegation is actively engaged. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan have committed to focusing on securing climate resilience and infrastructure funds for Alaska. Senator Sullivan confirmed frequent conversations with Acting FEMA Director David Richardson and other officials, stating that FEMA has an incident management team traveling to Alaska and a search-and-rescue group on standby. He also clarified that a government shutdown would not impact FEMA’s response, as reported by CNN. Senator Murkowski emphasized the urgency of these investments, noting that erosion mitigation projects take time. “But our reality is, we are seeing these storms coming … certainly on a more frequent basis, and the intensity that we’re seeing seems to be accumulating as well, and so the time to act on it is now because it’s going to take us some time to get these in place,” she stated.
This sentiment is particularly relevant for communities like Kwigillingok, a predominately Alaska Native community, where a 2022 report by the Alaska Institute for Justice identified increased frequency and severity of flooding, listing relocation as an urgent need. The broader issue of erosion and melting permafrost continues to threaten infrastructure and entire communities across Alaska, exacerbating the impacts of climate change.
Broader Weather Impacts Across the U.S.
While Alaska bore the brunt of Halong’s remnants, severe weather systems also affected other parts of the United States. In New York City, a woman tragically died after being struck by a solar panel, and the Columbus Day Parade was canceled. In the Phoenix area, rescuers recovered the body of a man whose truck was swept away by floodwaters. Meanwhile, in Southern California, crews were pre-positioned with helicopters and bulldozers to prepare for potential debris flows and mudslides in wildfire-ravaged areas, as a major storm threatened the state with several inches of rain and up to 3 feet of mountain snow in the Sierra Nevada. Tempe, Arizona, experienced a microburst and thunderstorm, dropping a half-inch of rain in 10 minutes and causing significant damage, including uprooted trees and a torn-off business complex roof, as reported by the National Weather Service.
The events in Alaska serve as a stark reminder of the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather phenomena and the critical need for robust disaster preparedness and long-term climate adaptation strategies across vulnerable regions.
