Typhoon Halong Devastates Western Alaska Indigenous Villages

In mid-October 2025, the remnants of Typhoon Halong struck western Alaska, bringing hurricane-force winds and record-breaking storm surges that devastated coastal villages, notably Kipnuk and Kwigillingok. The storm resulted in at least one confirmed death, two missing persons, and the displacement of approximately 1,500 residents. This disaster has underscored the vulnerability of remote Indigenous communities to extreme weather events and highlighted the challenges posed by recent federal funding cuts to disaster preparedness programs.

Typhoon Halong originated in the northern Philippine Sea on October 4, 2025, and rapidly intensified as it moved northeast. By October 10, it had transitioned into a powerful extratropical cyclone, impacting western Alaska with winds exceeding 100 mph and storm surges over six feet above normal tide lines. The villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, located in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, bore the brunt of the storm's fury. Homes were swept off their foundations, with some carried miles inland or out to sea. In Kipnuk, a 67-year-old woman was found dead, and two men, aged 71 and 41, were reported missing. Approximately 1,500 residents sought refuge in makeshift shelters, overwhelming local resources.

In response, state and federal agencies initiated one of the largest emergency airlifts in Alaska's history. The Alaska Army National Guard deployed helicopters to evacuate residents from Kipnuk to Bethel, about 90 miles inland. As Bethel's shelter reached capacity, the Guard began airlifting evacuees to Anchorage using a C-17 carrier capable of holding 300 people. By October 15, approximately 500 residents had been evacuated from the two villages. The U.S. Coast Guard also participated in rescue efforts, with crews from Air Station Kodiak rescuing 18 people in Kwigillingok and 16 in Kipnuk.

The remoteness of these villages and the approaching winter have posed significant challenges to relief efforts. Rick Thoman, an Alaska climate specialist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, noted that the region's flat terrain allows storm surges to inundate vast areas, leaving residents with few options for evacuation. He emphasized the logistical difficulties of rebuilding in such remote communities, where supplies must be transported by barge or small aircraft, and construction is limited to the short summer season.

The crisis has also highlighted the impact of recent federal funding cuts on disaster preparedness. The Rescissions Act of 2025, signed into law on July 24, 2025, rescinded $7.9 billion in funding from international assistance programs and $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additionally, the Trump administration has pursued a policy of reducing the federal role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with plans to eliminate the agency and transfer emergency management responsibilities to individual states. These cuts have left small, predominantly Indigenous villages like Kipnuk and Kwigillingok more vulnerable to natural disasters.

The increased frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events are linked to climate change. Typhoon Halong's unusual track and intensity were influenced by near-record warm sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific. Thoman noted that the storm's rapid approach left little time for comprehensive evacuation plans, exacerbating its impact on vulnerable communities.

As recovery efforts continue, the need for improved infrastructure and disaster preparedness in remote Indigenous communities has become increasingly apparent. The challenges faced by Kipnuk and Kwigillingok serve as a stark reminder of the importance of restoring and increasing federal support for climate resilience initiatives to protect vulnerable populations from the escalating threats posed by climate change.