More than 50 people were rescued from flooded Alaskan villages on Monday after remnants of Typhoon Halong unleashed hurricane-force winds and devastating storm surges to western Alaska over the weekend.
Alaska State Troopers confirmed that at least 51 people and two dogs were pulled from the communities of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, with some residents plucked from rooftops as floodwaters ripped homes away.
The Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management confirmed Sunday that eight homes in Kipnuk have been knocked off their foundations, while multiple houses in Kwigillingok floated to different parts of town or across rivers, with some residents being trapped inside.
Three people remained missing in Kwigillingok as of Monday, according to an update by the state troopers, down from 20 unaccounted for on Sunday, while authorities continue verifying reports of additional missing residents in Kipnuk.
Why It Matters
This unprecedented storm represents a dangerous evolution in Arctic weather patterns, with a Pacific typhoon’s remnants maintaining enough force to trigger catastrophic flooding across remote Alaskan communities.
The immediate humanitarian crisis—spurred by critical infrastructure damage including destroyed heating systems and ruined subsistence food stores—poses life-threatening risks as winter approaches.
What To Know
Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy declared a state disaster on Friday as the storm devastated Alaska’s western and northern coastlines, with the 2025 October West Coast Storm disaster declaration activating state public and individual assistance programs for infrastructure restoration and temporary housing.
Both Kipnuk and Kwigillingok experienced significant storm surge, with water levels exceeding 6.6 feet above normal high tide, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
U.S. Coast Guard Captain Christopher Culpepper described conditions in the affected villages to the Associated Press (AP) as “absolute devastation.” Most residents from both communities took shelter in local schools as the Alaska National Guard deployed search and rescue teams by aircraft and helicopter.
The damage extends beyond immediate structural concerns. Residents across the region reported power outages, lack of running water, subsistence foods destroyed in freezers and damaged home-heating stoves—all potentially catastrophic issues as temperatures drop.
A 2022 report prepared for Kwigillingok’s local tribe by the Alaska Institute for Justice identified flooding as an escalating threat, listing community relocation as an urgent need due to increased frequency and severity of floods in recent years.
What People Are Saying
Alaska State Troopers, on X: “Search and rescue efforts continued overnight and at least 51 people and two dogs have been rescued from Kipnuk and Kwigillingok following the powerful storm system that impacted multiple coastal communities in Western Alaska over the weekend.
“Three people remain unaccounted for in Kwigillingok. Troopers have received secondhand reports of people who were unaccounted for in Kipnuk and are continuing efforts to confirm and verify how many people are missing.
“Aerial search assets were deployed at first light on Monday, Oct. 13. The Alaska State Troopers are continuing to coordinate search and rescue efforts with the U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska Army National Guard and Alaska Air National Guard.”
Senator Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Republican, on X: “It’s heartbreaking to see the images from KYUK, KOTZ, KNOM, and across social media showing the devastation in Western Alaska: homes swept away, families displaced, and communities grappling with unimaginable loss. I cannot praise enough the heroism of the Alaska National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard and all those conducting search and rescue operations under dangerous conditions. As we continue to wait to learn more and pray for those still missing, I’m deeply grateful to every first responder and every Good Samaritan looking out for their neighbors. Seeing Alaskans care for one another in this storm gives me hope.”
Senator Dan Sullivan, Alaska Republican, on X: “My team and I are coordinating closely with local, state and federal officials regarding the impacts of the severe storm that hit many communities across western and northwest Alaska this week as the region braces for further storms.
“I had a good call with the Mayor of Kotzebue and the Mayor of the North Slope Borough recently. I want to commend them and their teams for their decisive leadership in conjunction with many other critical organizations, like Maniilaq and NANA. I just got off the phone with Acting FEMA Director David Richardson. He assured me that the leadership at FEMA has Alaska on its radar screen—both in terms of the storm that just hit and those that appear to be approaching the Northwest Arctic Borough and North Slope.”
What Happens Next?
Search operations continue for the three missing people as the NWS maintains flood warnings through Monday, with wind gusts reaching 70 mph in parts of Norton Sound.
Reporting from AP contributed to this article.
Read the full article here
