Kipnuk, Alaska, after coastal flooding impacted several communities in western Alaska. Photo: U.S. Coast Guard // Air Station Kodiak
Coastal communities in Western Alaska have been reeling after being hit hard by a devastating storm. The remnants of Typhoon Halong caused hurricane-force winds and a record-breaking storm surge that left hundreds displaced and at least one dead.
“The Alaska State Troopers are coordinating and assisting with multi-agency search and rescue operations today following a powerful storm that impacted multiple western Alaska coastal communities over the last 24 hours,” wrote the Alaska State Troopers on X. “The Alaska Air National Guard, Alaska Army National Guard and U.S. Coast Guard have launched rescue aircraft to Kipnuk and Kwigillingok to locate and rescue missing or displaced people. Both communities experienced strong winds and heavy flooding overnight, which caused significant damage, including at least eight homes being pushed from their foundations.”
As CNN reports, the storm generated wind gusts of 100 mph or more on Sunday. Those winds also created a powerful storm surge that caused water levels in Kipnuk to rise to 14.5 feet Sunday.
According to a statement from the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 49 communities are reporting impacts, and 1,400 residents are sheltering in 12 separate shelters. Search and rescue operations carried out by the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Troopers, and the U.S. Coast Guard, rescued a total of 51 people from Kipnuk and Kwigillingok. One woman was found dead and two others remain unaccounted for. Troopers continue to search for more missing people by air.
“If you imagine the worst case scenario, that’s what we are dealing with,” U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Christopher Culpepper told CNN.
