Extreme flooding in western Alaska, caused by the remnants of Typhoon Halong, has resulted in at least one fatality after the storm devastated local communities and inflicted damage on vital roads and regional airports in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta over the weekend.
On Monday evening, Alaska state troopers reported that a woman was discovered deceased in the coastal village of Kwigillingok.
Rescue operations saved fifty-one individuals and two dogs from Kwigillingok and Kipnuk, with officials confirming that all residents are now safe.
The strong coastal storm entered the Bering Sea on Sunday, bringing hurricane-strength wind gusts, large waves, and significant coastal flooding to the Kuskokwim Delta and areas south of the Bering Strait.
Ongoing storm surge and heavy rainfall have contributed to a critical situation since last week due to another storm system.
This unprecedented flooding has displaced over 1,400 residents and initiated search and rescue efforts led by state and federal authorities.
Footage from Bethel captured the powerful flooding that swept away boats and compromised infrastructure during the weekend.
Images shared by Alaska’s Emergency Management depict numerous homes engulfed in floodwaters.
The National Weather Service reported hurricane-force wind gusts reaching up to 100 mph over the weekend.
A video recorded in Emmonak showcased the intense winds flipping a boat upside down.
As per the state’s Division of Homeland Security, the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center received an overwhelming volume of calls regarding non-critical evacuations on Monday, with about 1,400 individuals currently staying in 12 shelters.
Additional response teams and members of the Alaska National Guard are being deployed to assist in the affected areas.
Alaska State Troopers stated that over 30 individuals were rescued from communities within the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta during the weekend.
Rescue efforts included at least 18 individuals in Kwigillingok and 16 in Kipnuk, according to troopers.
Reports from Alaska’s Department of Transportation indicated that over 50 community airports and roads have sustained damage from the storm.
The department highlighted that many Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta villages lack continuous road connections, relying heavily on local airports for access to other communities.
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A Coastal Flood Warning was active through Monday afternoon for a large portion of coastal Alaska.
During a news briefing on Monday, the National Weather Service indicated that water levels in Kipnuk reached 6.6 feet above the normal high-tide benchmark, surpassing the previous record by nearly 2 feet set in 2000.
Before Typhoon Halong’s recent arrival, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities finalized damage assessments following the first coastal storm last week.
Video footage showcased the flooding impact on Kotz Airport’s runway due to the initial round of severe weather.
According to an Alaska nonprofit organization, the Coastal Villages Region Fund, the destruction caused by Halong may outstrip that of Typhoon Merbok in 2022.
