ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The devastation caused by recent flooding in remote Alaskan villages is so severe that over 2,000 people who have been displaced may not be able to return home for up to 18 months, according to Governor Mike Dunleavy. He has formally requested a major disaster declaration from the White House.
One of the most severely impacted communities, Kipnuk, saw an overwhelming 90% of its homes—totaling 121—destroyed, as per Dunleavy’s report. In Kwigillingok, approximately one-third of the homes became uninhabitable after three dozen houses were swept away.
The flooding was triggered by the remnants of Typhoon Halong, which hit the region with the intensity of a Category 2 hurricane, unleashing high surf on the low-lying areas. The disaster claimed one life, left two individuals missing, and forced rescue teams to save dozens as their homes were carried off by the floodwaters.
Efforts are underway to evacuate residents from the waterlogged Alaska Native villages. More than 2,000 people have sought refuge in various locations—some in local schools, others in larger communities in southwest Alaska, and many have been airlifted to Anchorage by military aircraft. Dunleavy anticipates that over 1,500 will eventually need relocation to major cities in the state.
In Anchorage, the state’s largest city, approximately 575 evacuees have already been relocated by the Alaska National Guard to a sports arena and a convention center, with more flights planned for Friday and Saturday. Authorities are currently focused on transitioning evacuees from temporary shelters to both short-term and longer-term housing solutions.
“Given the challenges posed by time, space, distance, geography, and weather, it is highly unlikely that many survivors will be able to return to their communities this winter,” Dunleavy stated. “While agencies are prioritizing urgent repairs, some communities may simply not be able to sustain winter occupancy in the harsh climate of the U.S. Arctic.”
The federal government already has been assisting with search and rescue, damage assessments, environmental response and evacuation support. A major disaster declaration by President Donald Trump could provide federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, including money for emergency and permanent work.
The three members of Alaska’s congressional delegation on Friday sent a letter to Trump, urging swift approval.
The storm surge pummeled a sparsely populated region off the state’s main road system where communities are reachable only by air or water this time of year. The villages typically have just a few hundred residents, who hunt and fish for much of their food, and relocating to the state’s major cities will bring a vastly different lifestyle.
Alexie Stone, of Kipnuk, arrived in Anchorage in a military jet with his brothers, children and mom, after his home was struck by the flooding. They’ve been staying at the Alaska Airlines Center at the University of Alaska, where the Red Cross provided evacuees with cots, blankets and hygiene supplies.
At least for the foreseeable future, he thinks he might try to find a job at a grocery store; he used to work in one in Bethel.
“It’s going to be, try to look for a place and find a job,” Stone said Friday. “We’re starting a new life here in Anchorage.”
Johnson reported from Seattle.
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