Anchorage, Alaska — The Alaska Air National Guard evacuated hundreds of residents from western coastal villages this week after flooding from a powerful storm left homes destroyed and entire communities isolated.
Officials said the evacuations began late Wednesday and continued through Friday as floodwaters from the remnants of Typhoon Halong surged into the low-lying villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, where dozens of houses were swept from their foundations. More than 260 people were flown to Bethel for temporary shelter before being moved to Anchorage for longer-term housing.
“The scope of this operation is unlike anything we’ve seen in recent years,” said Col. Christy Brewer, commander of the Alaska Air National Guard’s 176th Wing. “We’re facing limited daylight, poor visibility, and damaged landing strips — but our crews are getting people out safely.”
In some villages, water rose more than six feet above normal tide levels, destroying roads and power lines. Residents described the flooding as sudden and violent. “The house started shaking and then we realized it was moving,” said Alexie Stone, who lived near the Kuskokwim River. “When we looked outside, the whole yard was gone.”
The storm, which formed in the western Pacific and tracked north across the Bering Sea, brought hurricane-force winds to Alaska’s western coast and heavy rain that flooded dozens of small communities. State emergency officials said at least one person has died and two remain missing.
By Friday morning, more than 1,500 people across the region had been displaced. Shelters in Bethel reached capacity, prompting state officials to open larger facilities in Anchorage, including the Alaska Airlines Center. The Guard used C-130 transport planes and Pave Hawk helicopters to reach isolated areas, coordinating with local responders who had moved residents to makeshift landing zones.
Recovery efforts are now turning toward restoring electricity and securing food and clean water supplies. Many homes are expected to be uninhabitable before winter sets in, and rebuilding will likely take months.
Flooding along Alaska’s western coast has become increasingly severe in recent years, as thawing permafrost and retreating sea ice leave communities more exposed to storms. Federal agencies are assessing whether relocation will be necessary for some villages where protective berms and levees failed.
