Alaska Races to Assist Communities Devastated by Typhoon Halong

Sun Oct 19 2025 20:09:17 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Alaska officials are urgently searching for housing and resources for communities severely impacted by the remnants of Typhoon Halong. Several villages have faced catastrophic damage as winter approaches, leaving many residents displaced.

In the wake of Typhoon Halong, Alaska is grappling with the aftermath as remote coastal villages suffer extensive damage. With over 1,300 residents displaced and essential infrastructures compromised, officials are working around the clock to provide immediate shelter and resources. The situation is dire as cold weather approaches, intensifying pressures for long-term recovery solutions.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Officials in Alaska are in a race against time to find housing for residents of isolated coastal villages that have been devastated by the remnants of Typhoon Halong. High winds and storm surges have compromised the structural integrity of homes across the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, leaving hundreds in emergency shelters as they face an impending winter.

The storm caused flooding that left buildings floating out to sea, prompting the Coast Guard to rescue approximately two dozen individuals. Amid the crisis, three individuals are feared missing, and countless others continue to live in inadequate conditions, such as school shelters lacking basic facilities.

With over 1,300 people displaced, officials have activated the National Guard to assist in the relief efforts and were flown to shelters in Bethel, a nearby urban center. As resources dwindle, evacuations are being considered for those who might need to be relocated to longer-term housing in cities like Fairbanks and Anchorage.

Essential services have also been disrupted, with fuel depots damaged, raising concerns about pollution and threatening the food supplies that many rely on for subsistence. Many families may have lost freezers full of critical food supplies that are essential for winter survival.

Community leaders describe the devastation as 'catastrophic,' noting that nearly every home in the hardest-hit villages like Kipnuk and Kwigillingok has been affected by the storm. As the community rallies, the focus remains on delivering critical supplies including food, water, and generators while preparing for an arduous recovery process.

Experts caution that without significant intervention, the road to recovery will be long and challenging. With winter’s approach, the urgency to stabilize these communities is greater than ever, and the resilience of Indigenous peoples in these areas will be tested as they begin to rebuild their lives and homes.