Hundreds of residents are being evacuated from small villages in Alaska after a powerful storm caused catastrophic damage across the western part of the state.
According to the Associated Press, Alaska officials requested state assistance to help relocate more than 1,000 people affected by the remnants of Typhoon Halong. The storm brought “widespread flooding, infrastructure damage, and community displacement across the region,” the Alaska National Guard said in a statement on Wednesday, Oct. 15.
The National Guard confirmed that survivors were being moved “to safe, warm shelters” outside the impacted areas. The regional hub of Bethel has nearly reached full capacity, prompting officials to expand shelter operations to nearby communities.
Mark Roberts, incident commander for the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), explained that many damaged homes “cannot be reoccupied, even with emergency repairs,” adding that “infrastructure has been compromised in several communities.”
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“Our focus now is making sure people are safe, warm, and cared for while we work with our partners to restore essential services,” Roberts said.
Residents were airlifted from Kipnuk to Bethel on Tuesday, Oct. 14, and Wednesday via Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters, the Alaska National Guard confirmed. Additional helicopters were launched on Wednesday to continue evacuations from Kipnuk and Kwigillingok.
A C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from the 176th Wing transported supplies to Bethel and Kotzebue and was scheduled to carry about 300 evacuees to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER). Once there, evacuees will remain temporarily before being moved to shelters in Anchorage.
About 35 members of the Alaska Organized Militia were deployed Wednesday to Kotzebue, Nome, and Bethel to assist with shelter operations, supply distribution, and community assessments. From Bethel, evacuees will be transported to JBER, where multiple agencies are coordinating ground transportation, food service, and medical care.
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Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy wrote on X late Wednesday that “the first planeload of those impacted by the typhoon that hit Western Alaska arrived in Anchorage.” He added, “We will do everything we can to get people back up on their feet as soon as possible.” Dunleavy also noted that President Donald Trump “asked me to let Alaskans know he is monitoring the situation” and has promised that “more help is on the way.”
In total, about 75 personnel have been deployed to assist survivors, according to the Alaska National Guard. Officials described Wednesday’s efforts as “one of the most significant airlift operations in recent Alaska disaster response history.”
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“These families have experienced the worst days of their lives and are now moving away from their homes, schools, and neighbors,” Roberts said. “We’re doing everything we can to help them recover and ensure they are welcomed and supported.”
At least one person has died and two others remain missing following the storm, according to Alaska’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The agency said Wednesday that it had transitioned to recovery operations while continuing to search for the missing individuals.
