Alaska Residents Displaced by Typhoon Halong Face Tough Choices as Winter Approaches

Officials in Alaska are in a race against time to find housing for residents of small coastal villages hit hard by the remnants of Typhoon Halong. The damage from high winds and storm surges has left these remote communities struggling, especially as winter approaches.

Over the weekend, strong storms battered low-lying Native communities along the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, nearly 500 miles from Anchorage. The Coast Guard evacuated about 24 people from homes that floated away, while three individuals were reported missing or dead. Many others found refuge in school shelters that lack basic amenities.

As a result of this disaster, more than 1,300 residents have been displaced. Some have been taken to a shelter in Bethel, a city with about 6,000 residents. Officials are now looking at flights to move evacuees to longer-term housing in Fairbanks and Anchorage.

The storm has damaged local fuel depots, raising concerns about potential pollution affecting the fish and wildlife that local communities depend on for food. Many families may have lost freezers full of salmon and moose, which are crucial for surviving the winter.

Among the hardest-hit areas were Kipnuk, home to around 715 people, and Kwigillingok, which has about 380 residents. These villages are remote, accessible only by water or air during this time of year.

“It’s catastrophic in Kipnuk,” remarked Mark Roberts, the state emergency management incident commander. “We are doing everything we can to support that community, but it is as bad as you can imagine.”

In Kwigillingok, the school is the only building with full power, and workers are scrambling to repair bathrooms. An early assessment indicated that all homes in the village sustained damage, with many dislodged from their foundations.

Power outages affected Napakiak, and Toksook Bay reported severe erosion. The National Guard was mobilized to assist with emergency response efforts, bringing in essential supplies whenever weather conditions allowed.

Rick Thoman, a climate expert at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, emphasized the challenges ahead. “Indigenous communities in Alaska are resilient,” he explained. “But when an entire community has every house damaged, there’s only so much they can do, especially with winter closing in.”

As the region prepares for recovery, the need for continued support will be crucial. The impact of climate change is evident here, with storms becoming more severe and frequent. Recent studies show that Alaska is warming at double the rate of the rest of the United States, which could spell even more severe weather events in the future.

While these communities face significant challenges, their strength and resilience shine through. With the right support, they can work toward rebuilding their lives during these trying times.



Source link

Rick Thoman,ethnicity,U.S. news,Mark Roberts,environment,Climate,Race