ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Search and rescue operations are ongoing across western Alaska after ferocious, hurricane-force winds and a record-breaking storm surge from what was once Typhoon Halong tore through several remote coastal communities, leaving widespread destruction in its wake.
According to Alaska State Troopers, three people remain missing in the village of Kwigillingok as of Monday. Since the weekend, at least 51 residents and two dogs have been rescued in Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, where the storm’s violent winds and flooding pushed at least eight homes off their foundations.
The two small, sparsely populated villages sit more than 400 miles southwest of Anchorage, making access and relief efforts especially difficult. Authorities said they are working to confirm reports of additional missing residents in Kipnuk.
Search operations continued overnight with support from the Alaska Air and Army National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard, and state emergency teams.
Record Winds and Flooding
The National Weather Service reported wind gusts exceeding 100 mph across western Alaska on Sunday — comparable to a Category 1 or 2 hurricane. The highest recorded gust was 107 mph in Kusilvak, while nearby Toksook Bay reached 100 mph.
The intense winds drove dangerous storm surge, inundating low-lying coastal areas with several feet of water. In Kipnuk, water levels surged to 14.5 feet, surpassing major flood stage by over two feet and breaking the previous record set in 2000.
From Typhoon to Arctic Storm
Originally a powerful typhoon in the northern Philippine Sea, Halong moved past Japan earlier this month before crossing the North Pacific. Although it lost its tropical characteristics before entering the Bering Sea over the weekend, its remnants still packed destructive force.
By late Sunday night, the storm had tracked across northern Alaska and into the Arctic Sea, leaving behind a trail of flooded homes, damaged infrastructure, and displaced residents.
State and Federal Response
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy expanded the state disaster declaration Sunday to include the communities hit by Halong’s remnants, pledging continued aid.
“Every effort will be made to help those hit by this storm. Help is on the way,” the governor said in a statement.
Senator Dan Sullivan said he has been in frequent communication with FEMA, state officials, and tribal leaders to coordinate assistance.
“FEMA is in direct contact with state and local officials and has an incident management team traveling to Alaska as we speak,” Sullivan said, adding that the federal response is proceeding despite the ongoing government shutdown.
The FEMA search-and-rescue team, currently staged in Washington state, remains on standby for rapid deployment as floodwaters begin to recede.
Alaska continues to face repeated bouts of extreme coastal weather, with last week’s separate storm already causing severe flooding and prompting the state’s initial emergency declaration.
As recovery begins, residents in the storm-battered western villages are left to assess the damage and rebuild — once again facing the challenges of isolation, limited infrastructure, and harsh Arctic conditions.
