Rescue and recovery efforts underway as remnants of Typhoon Halong hit western Alaska
- Alaska Beacon
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
By Corrine Smith
Alaska Beacon
Rescue and recovery efforts began Sunday in western Alaska as a major storm caused by remnants of Typhoon Halong hit coastal communities with massive storm surge, flooding and hurricane-force winds up to 100 mph.
The storm bore down on the lower Kuskokwim River delta region early Sunday morning with the most significant damage reported in Kipnuk, Kwigillingok, and Napakiak.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Alaska Air National Guard, and Alaska Army National Guard dispatched rescue aircraft to conduct search and rescue efforts, and begin delivering needed supplies.
There were no serious injuries or deaths reported as of Sunday afternoon, according to the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
“Search and rescue is the priority at this time,” said division spokesperson Jeremy Zidek by email. He said rescue teams searched the multiple homes that were torn up and floating in nearby waters.
On Sunday, the Alaska State Troopers reported at least 18 people were rescued in Kwigillingok and at least 16 people were rescued in Kipnuk.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy extended a disaster declaration first issued on Oct. 8 to coordinate disaster response and recovery resources for communities in the Yupitt, Pribilof Island and Lower Kuskokwim Regional Education Attendance Areas.
“Every effort will be made to help those hit by this storm. Help is on the way,” Dunleavy said.
Representatives of coastal villages reported on an afternoon call hosted by the nonprofit Association of Village Council Presidents that residents were sheltering in place, many in local schools, and were assessing the damage.
The storm caused major erosion, damaging boardwalks, roads and bridges. It sank boats and damaged homes with high winds. Some homes were blown off foundations and turned over. Some communities reported power outages and a loss of cell service, and were relying on backup generators and Starlink satellites for wifi connection.
Zidek said that there were no emergency evacuations, but the Alaska National Guard’s Bethel Readiness Center was equipped with a 100-bed shelter to receive evacuees if necessary.
Winds gusted up to 100 miles per hour in Tooksook Bay, 91 mph in St George Island, and up to 76 mph in Bethel and St Mary’s, according to the National Weather Service Alaska Region.
Coastal flood warnings are still in effect for the Kuskokwim Delta coast, Nunivak Island, St. Lawrence Island and to the northwest coast, and there are coastal flood advisories for the western and central Arctic coast.
High wind advisories were issued throughout much of western Alaska coast, with forecasters expecting winds gusting up to 70 miles per hour in some areas, into Monday.
• Corinne Smith started reporting in Alaska in 2020, serving as a radio reporter for several local stations across the state including in Petersburg, Haines, Homer and Dillingham. She spent two summers covering the Bristol Bay fishing season. Originally from Oakland, California, she got her start as a reporter, then morning show producer, at KPFA Radio in Berkeley. Alaska Beacon is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
