JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska's coastal communities are reeling from the devastating impacts of Typhoon Halong's remnants, with officials scrambling to provide housing and assistance to severely affected Indigenous residents as winter approaches.
The storm's high winds and storm surge inflicted extensive damage on small, isolated Alaska Native villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, with nearly 500 residents displaced and many surviving in makeshift school shelters.
Among the hardest-hit towns are Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, where structural devastation is overwhelming. Preliminary reports indicate that every home in Kwigillingok has suffered damage, with some floating away. Efforts are underway to provide basic necessities like food, water, and generators, but the outlook remains bleak as infrastructure is severely compromised.
Fuel storage facilities vital for sustaining these communities have been compromised, risking pollution in surrounding habitats. The loss of traditional food sources, such as salmon and moose, could pose a significant threat to the subsistence lifestyle of Alaska Native peoples.
As local and state authorities coordinate recovery efforts, challenges persist. Access to these remote communities is limited, especially as the storm season overlaps with impending winter conditions. Alaska’s climate specialist points out that while resilience is key, the scale of destruction may leave whole communities unable to rebound without external support.
Mark Roberts, a commander with the state emergency management division, described the situation in Kipnuk as “catastrophic,” confirming that much work is needed to support the community. As Indigenous leadership calls for help, themes of resilience and the need for sustained focus on these vulnerable communities resonate across Alaska.
With the end of the growing season and long Arctic winters approaching, the urgency for long-term recovery solutions intensifies, underscoring the challenges of rebuilding in such remote disaster-stricken areas.
