Severe Storms in Alaska Displace Over 1,500 People

Remnants of Typhoon Halong have caused severe damage in Alaska, leading to the displacement of over 1,500 people, and 49 communities reporting impacts from the storm.

The Details: The storm struck Alaska’s Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta over the weekend, bringing hurricane-force winds and record flooding. The villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok–which are two of the most isolated areas in the US–were among the hardest hit, with dozens of homes reportedly destroyed or swept from their foundations. State troopers confirmed one death in Kwigillingok, while 51 residents and two dogs were rescued from the two villages. Two others are reported missing. The flooding also damaged regional airports and key roads, hampering emergency response and recovery efforts. State and federal agencies are conducting search, rescue, and relief operations for displaced residents.

For Context: The devastation is among the worst seen in recent years. The affected area relies heavily on local airports for connection to outside communities, and leaves recovery efforts challenging, given the need to transport rebuilding supplies into the area. Rick Thoman, an Alaska climate specialist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks said the storm was likely fueled by the warm surface waters of the Pacific Ocean, which he attributes to climate change. In June, the National Weather Service office in Fairbanks, Alaska issued a heat advisory–the first ever in Alaska’s history. 

How the Media Covered It: Alaska Public Media (Center bias) reported on the extensive damage and ongoing search and rescue operations. It noted the storm followed a “very unusual track,” according to the National Weather Service, which had revised its forecast of the typhoon’s path during the weekend. The New York Post (Lean Right) reported on the search and rescue efforts in different communities, and included footage of ongoing flooding. The New York Times (Lean Left) said the damage comes five months after the Environmental Protection Agency cancelled a $20 million grant intended to protect Kipnuk from extreme flooding. It argued that while it is unclear whether the grant would have prevented the disaster, it “laid bare the area’s vulnerability to flooding and the consequences of the Trump administration’s cuts to environmental programs.”

Revised by the AllSides staff after a first draft by our custom AI.