A devastating storm, once Typhoon Halong, has left a trail of destruction in western Alaska, with its powerful winds and record-breaking storm surge causing widespread damage and leaving several people missing.
The remote coastal communities, located over 400 miles southwest of Anchorage, were hit hard by the hurricane-force winds, which reached speeds of over 100 mph. This intense storm, comparable to a Category 1 or 2 hurricane, caused significant flooding and structural damage. In Kwigillingok, three individuals remain unaccounted for, while 18 people were rescued, according to the Alaska Department of Public Safety. Additionally, 16 people were rescued in Kipnuk, and authorities are working to verify reports of more missing individuals.
The sparsely populated villages experienced severe overnight flooding and strong winds, resulting in at least eight homes being completely displaced from their foundations. The search and rescue efforts continued overnight, with assistance from the Alaska Air National Guard, Alaska Army National Guard, and the US Coast Guard.
The storm surge, driven by the powerful winds, pushed water levels to unprecedented heights. In Kipnuk, water levels reached 14.5 feet, surpassing the major flood stage by over 2 feet and breaking the previous record set in 2000 by 1.5 feet.
Typhoon Halong, which formed in the northern Philippine Sea earlier this month, skirted Japan without making landfall and then crossed the North Pacific Ocean. Although it had lost its tropical characteristics by the time it entered the Bering Sea, its strength remained formidable.
The storm moved through northern Alaska late on Sunday night and into the Arctic Sea early Monday, leaving communities to face the aftermath. Governor Mike Dunleavy assured the affected communities that help was on the way, stating, "Every effort will be made to assist those impacted by this storm."
The initial state disaster declaration, issued on Thursday, addressed the damage caused by an earlier powerful coastal storm that brought extensive flooding to western Alaska. Senator Dan Sullivan has been in close communication with Acting FEMA Director David Richardson and local, tribal, and state officials, including Governor Dunleavy and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Sullivan confirmed that FEMA is in direct contact with state and local officials and has an incident management team en route to Alaska, with a FEMA search-and-rescue group on standby in Washington. He emphasized that the government shutdown is not affecting FEMA's response to this emergency.
As the search and rescue operations continue, the full extent of the storm's impact is yet to be determined. The situation remains critical, and the affected communities are facing a challenging recovery process.
