Severe Flooding in Alaska Displaces Thousands Following Typhoon Halong

Fri Dec 05 2025 20:43:50 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As Typhoon Halong's remnants wreak havoc on remote Alaskan villages, Governor Mike Dunleavy requests federal disaster assistance, revealing extensive displacement and destruction.

In the wake of Typhoon Halong's destructive impact on western Alaska, approximately 2,000 residents have been displaced, with a majority unlikely to return home for over a year. Gov. Mike Dunleavy has requested a major disaster declaration as assessments reveal massive damage across villages like Kipnuk and Kwigillingok. Rescue operations continue as evacuees find temporary shelter in Anchorage while officials work on long-term housing solutions against the backdrop of harsh winter conditions.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The remnants of Typhoon Halong have devastated remote villages in Alaska, causing extensive flooding that has displaced around 2,000 residents. Governor Mike Dunleavy has urged the White House to approve a major disaster declaration, anticipating that many individuals will not be able to return home for at least 18 months due to the magnitude of destruction.

In particularly hard-hit villages like Kipnuk, assessments indicate that approximately 90% of homes have been destroyed. In Kwigillingok, which saw many houses swept away by floodwaters, a third of the residences are reported uninhabitable. The storm's impact, described by officials as akin to a Category 2 hurricane, has led to one reported fatality, with two individuals still missing.

Rescue crews have been working tirelessly to airlift residents from inundated areas. So far, around 575 evacuees have been transported to Anchorage, where they are currently housed in temporary shelters, including sports arenas and convention centers. Anchorage leaders have reported the expectation of an influx of as many as 1,600 evacuees from the affected regions over the coming days.

With winter fast approaching and the harsh conditions of the region posing additional challenges, state officials are prioritizing the rapid repair of essential infrastructure while also seeking temporary housing solutions for evacuees. Many survivors find themselves grappling with the dramatic transition from their traditional lifestyles, which rely heavily on hunting and fishing, to living in urban settings.

In a heartfelt statement, Mayor Suzanne LaFrance of Anchorage expressed solidarity with those affected, recognizing their tremendous loss and commitment to assisting the evacuees as they face a new chapter in their lives. Community efforts are underway to find jobs and short-term accommodations to ensure that individuals do not feel abandoned during this crisis.

As the situation develops, federal agencies have already mobilized resources for search and rescue operations, damage assessments, and evacuation efforts, with hopes for federal disaster assistance becoming reality soon, following a collective appeal from Alaska's congressional delegation to President Trump.