On October 10 and 11 the remnants of Pacific Typhoon Halong slammed into western Alaska. The Kuskokwim River delta was hit hardest, and rescue and evacuation operations are ongoing. Officials report more than a thousand residents have fled rising rivers and inundated lowlands.
Dozens of people have been rescued and hundreds more have been relocated to shelters in other towns, but some still remain unaccounted for. At least one death has been reported.
State officials said Tuesday that 1,800 Alaskans from 49 separate communities were forced to leave their homes and find safety in 12 shelters due to the impacts of the former Typhoon Halong.
Some residents have been pulled out by plane, others by boat as roads and bridges became unusable. Remote conditions and ongoing rain have made ground relief slow and dangerous. Local teams are prioritizing life-saving evacuations and medical needs.
Governor Dunleavy and Alaska’s congressional delegation requested a federal disaster declaration to unlock extra resources and funding. At least two villages, Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, were completely evacuated and officials moved populations to safer towns. The governor visited Bethel to see operations firsthand and to coordinate with response teams.
Vice President Vance, on his official X account, stated that he and President Trump are :
Shelters for displaced residents were set up in Anchorage, which the storm largely bypassed, and the Kenai Peninsula Borough offered additional space. The Alaska Air National Guard carried out a major evacuation effort, flying hundreds out of danger zones. Local churches and community centers are also opening doors to families who arrive with little more than what they could carry.
Nearly 600 people arrived in Anchorage over the course of two days as part of a massive airlift taken on by the Alaska Air National Guard.
On Thursday, two planes landed in Anchorage carrying 210 and 114 people, respectively, as well as eight pallets of luggage on the last plane. The effort has been called the largest airlift in Alaska’s history by state officials.
Evacuees were originally sent to Bethel, but due to the number of people needing shelter, disaster relief agencies began looking to Anchorage for additional shelter.
The scale of the evacuation forced relief agencies to expand sheltering beyond Bethel and organize transportation, food, and medical care. Volunteers are staging supply runs, and hospitals are triaging patients with flood-related injuries and chronic conditions. Established charities and state funds are coordinating to ensure donations match immediate needs.
How to help:
- Donate to the American Red Cross of Alaska.
- Support the Salvation Army’s Typhoon Halong relief efforts.
- The American Red Cross of Alaska is accepting donations and help by phone at 1-800-733-2767.
- Contribute to the Western Alaska Disaster Relief Fund by calling (907) 334-6700.
- If you need immediate rescue, contact Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at (907) 551-7230.
- For non-emergency assistance call 907-428-7100.
- The Alaska Federation of Natives is accepting donations of essential items at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage.
- A benefit concert in Anchorage will donate 25% of its proceeds to storm relief efforts.
A federal declaration would bring FEMA teams, financial assistance and coordination support to the region. State leaders said speed is critical as displaced residents face cold weather and disrupted services.
The airlift required tight coordination between the Alaska Air National Guard, civilian carriers and local authorities to move families and their belongings. Officials noted that transporting luggage and essentials helped people land with what they needed to begin recovery.
Community groups in Anchorage and Bethel are running shelters, meal programs and intake centers for arriving evacuees. Volunteers are organizing donations and officials are urging cash gifts to vetted relief organizations to speed aid to families.
If you or someone you know is affected, use the emergency numbers above rather than relying solely on social posts. Relief coordinators ask that people donate to vetted organizations and avoid traveling into impacted zones unless they are part of an authorized response. Media and officials continue to update the public as resources shift and new needs emerge.
