JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Officials in Alaska rushed Tuesday to find housing for people from tiny coastal villages devastated by the remnants of Typhoon Halong. But the remote location and severe damage are limiting their options as they race against other impending storms and the onset of winter.
High winds and storm surge battered low-lying, isolated Alaska Native communities along the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in southwest Alaska, nearly 500 miles from Anchorage, over the weekend. The Coast Guard rescued two dozen individuals after their homes floated away in high water, while three people are either missing or confirmed dead. Hundreds of residents are currently sheltering in schools, including one with no functioning toilets.
Across the region, over 1,300 individuals have been displaced. Dozens have been evacuated to a shelter in Bethel, a nearby community, while officials consider moving evacuees to longer-term accommodations in Fairbanks and Anchorage as local shelters reach capacity.
Damage to fuel storage facilities poses an additional environmental threat, potentially harming local fish and game, which Alaska Native residents rely on for sustenance. Reports indicate that households have lost freezers full of food meant for the winter.
The most affected areas include Kipnuk (population 715) and Kwigillingok (population 380), which are inaccessible via state roads this time of year, relying solely on air and water transport. Officials describe the damage in Kipnuk as 'catastrophic,' stressing the urgent need for support.
With homes damaged or destroyed and winter fast approaching, recovery efforts are complicated by the inevitable seasonal changes. Alaska climate specialists warn that rebuilding before the winter season is no longer feasible.
Community resilience is evident, yet the scale of this disaster poses formidable challenges that will require extensive support in the coming months.
