Kwigillingok Residents Struggle After Typhoon Halong Displaces Thousands

Fri Nov 07 2025 13:09:19 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

With winter approaching, the fate of Kwigillingok's residents remains uncertain after Typhoon Halong devastated the village, uprooting homes and causing significant damage.

In the aftermath of Typhoon Halong, only a small number of residents remain in Kwigillingok as the community begins to reckon with the severe flooding that has displaced many. Local leaders are exploring long-term solutions to protect against future storms, while residents must adapt to life away from home or grapple with the uncertain fate of their village as climate change exacerbates threats to their way of life.

KWIGILLINGOK, Alaska (AP) — As the remnants of Typhoon Halong have wreaked havoc on his village, Darrel John watched sadly as the last few evacuees departed his community via helicopters and planes. He is one of the remaining seven residents who have chosen to stay in Kwigillingok, a place that has seen homes tossed miles away, leaving destruction in its wake.

Last month’s devastating storm resulted in one confirmed death and left two individuals missing. Many of the villagers were airlifted as their possessions floated away, uprooting lives profoundly and abruptly.

“I just couldn’t leave my community,” John said, reflecting on how he has worked to provide support from the town’s school-shelter as they navigate the storm’s aftermath. However, questions linger: What will become of this community as its residents, including John's children, contemplate returning as winter approaches?

The office of Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy is currently focused on repairing the damage and supporting over 1,600 displaced individuals, which could take as long as 18 months. Many of those displaced are now living in Anchorage, adjusting to a lifestyle vastly different from their subsistence routines back home.

Short-term repairs have begun but many residents doubt whether their villages will remain viable amid increasing threats from climate change, including rising sea levels and intensified storms. John holds out hope for repairs to buy time until a plan for relocation can be devised.

Across Alaska, communities are feeling the impact of human-caused climate change, with a trend of relocation discussions emerging as flood risks rise. For the towns hit hardest by Typhoon Halong, the challenges of rebuilding while clinging to their home and lifestyle seem daunting.

As one local resident stated, this may be a pivotal moment: “This is our land; you’ve got to come back to your home.” Yet as their villages face repeated destruction, many are questioning if they can safely remain where they are.

In Kwigillingok, unmoored homes dot the landscape, with some being repositioned as search crews lend a hand. Local residents are participating in recovery work, including repairing vital services for those who have remained or returned, while the ominous nature of future storms continues to loom.