JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A new wave of rain and wind is set to hit the Alaskan coast where two small villages were devastated by the remnants of Typhoon Halong, forcing over 1,500 people from their homes. The storm, occurring over the weekend, resulted in high winds and rough surf that severely impacted the Alaska Native communities along the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, approximately 500 miles from Anchorage, leading to at least one death and two people reported missing. The Coast Guard executed rescue operations, saving dozens from homes that had been swept into the sea.
In the wake of the storm, many displaced residents sought shelter in local schools, facing significant challenges; one facility had no functioning toilets. The scale of displacement forced officials to open shelters in Bethel, a nearby city, while considering long-term housing options far from the storm's devastation.
Kipnuk and Kwigillingok were the hardest hit, with Kipnuk's population of 715 experiencing catastrophic damage. Mark Roberts, an emergency management official, described the situation in Kipnuk as dire. It’s catastrophic in Kipnuk. Let’s not paint any other picture, he emphasized during a press conference.
Residents expressed the heartbreak of witnessing destruction firsthand. Brea Paul from Kipnuk recalled seeing homes float away during the storm, describing the traumatic moments shared with her community as they contemplated their uncertain futures
Despite the community's resilience, officials warned that recovery would be an arduous journey. Supplies needed for rebuilding will be challenging to transport, all while winter looms on the horizon. Experts believe warming ocean temperatures, exacerbated by climate change, are intensifying the severity of storms like Halong, posing continued risks to Alaska's vulnerable communities.
In the wake of the storm, many displaced residents sought shelter in local schools, facing significant challenges; one facility had no functioning toilets. The scale of displacement forced officials to open shelters in Bethel, a nearby city, while considering long-term housing options far from the storm's devastation.
Kipnuk and Kwigillingok were the hardest hit, with Kipnuk's population of 715 experiencing catastrophic damage. Mark Roberts, an emergency management official, described the situation in Kipnuk as dire. It’s catastrophic in Kipnuk. Let’s not paint any other picture, he emphasized during a press conference.
Residents expressed the heartbreak of witnessing destruction firsthand. Brea Paul from Kipnuk recalled seeing homes float away during the storm, describing the traumatic moments shared with her community as they contemplated their uncertain futures
Despite the community's resilience, officials warned that recovery would be an arduous journey. Supplies needed for rebuilding will be challenging to transport, all while winter looms on the horizon. Experts believe warming ocean temperatures, exacerbated by climate change, are intensifying the severity of storms like Halong, posing continued risks to Alaska's vulnerable communities.
