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A mass evacuation by military aircraft of hundreds of residents from Alaska villages devastated by the remnants of Typhoon Halong has been completed, and officials and local leaders are focusing on trying to stabilize damaged infrastructure and housing before the winter cold sets in.
Following a succession of storms in western Alaska, the focus of major response efforts has been on the Yup’ik communities of Kipanuk and Quigilingok, which are near Kipp. Bering Sea And there is a history of floods. While more than a dozen communities reported damage from Halong’s remnants earlier this month, Kipnuk and Quigilingok were devastated by the storm and water levels reaching record highs.
houses They were swept away, some even had people inside. Winds shook the area and tossed buildings like toys. First responders reported rescuing people from rooftops. One person died, and two are missing.
Early estimates show 90% of the buildings in Kipnuk were destroyed, with fresh water supplies contaminated by fuel and sewage, according to a report released Monday by Alaska’s Division of Emergency Management. Reports said that about 35% of the buildings in Quigilingoc were destroyed.
Alaska Native organization wants additional action
The Alaska Federation of Natives passed a resolution in support of comprehensive, immediate and ongoing help for the territory during its annual convention that ended Saturday.
The group is the largest statewide Native organization in Alaska, and its meeting in Anchorage last week coincided with the temporary relocation of hundreds of people to shelters in the city, which is Alaska’s largest and about 500 miles (804.7 kilometers) from some of the smaller villages where residents rely heavily on hunting and fishing as part of their culture.
The resolution, among other things, urges state and federal governments to “make continued investments in sustainable Alaska Arctic infrastructure and protective measures” and strengthen relationships with tribes to “ensure a continued federal presence and equitable access to resources for remote communities in the Bering Sea and Arctic regions.”
Fund Questions raised by the President aimed at improving community resilience or reducing disaster risks donald trumpThe administration’s efforts to cancel these are being challenged in court. Alaska’s U.S. senators, Republicans Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, have said they will make the case for the importance of such funds in Alaska, where many rural communities face threats from coastal erosion and permafrost thaw, requiring significant infrastructure updates — and in some cases, relocation.
The Alaska Federation of Natives resolution also urged the federal government to establish a regional response center in the Southwest Alaska community of Bethel and provide funding to village public safety officials to assist in response efforts. And it calls on governments at all levels to discourage “any obstruction that would disrupt hunting and fishing practices” to compensate for the fish, moose meat and other subsistence and traditional foods that Native peoples lost in the storm.
Due to the remoteness of the area, goods have to be sent by barge or brought by air. Hunting and fishing help supplement the food available at local grocery stores which can be limited and often expensive.
Anchorage is welcoming displaced students
More than 25 students were registered in the Anchorage School District and classes were expected to start by Monday, according to state reports. A spokesperson for the district did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
Jarrett Bryant, the district superintendent, said in a statement last week that school teams would be ready to provide emergency supplies, bus transportation, mental health services, language assistance and other assistance.
He said, “This change is both emotionally and culturally important. Our schools will be places of belonging, healing and hope, where every child feels safe, valued and connected.” “Respecting each student’s culture, language and relationships will be essential to helping them heal and rebuild a sense of home.”
working against time, and winter
The state’s focus has turned to sending personnel and supplies to communities to restore damaged infrastructure and assist with emergency home repairs, the Emergency Management Agency reports. Tribal organizations and unions are coordinating efforts to help dry out, rescue and repair homes.
The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp., which is involved in recovery efforts and provides health care in the territory, said on social media that it feared the water would freeze within weeks when rivers begin to freeze.
State Emergency Management Agency spokesman Jeremy Zidek said there is no date yet that officials plan to close the shelters set up in Anchorage.
“As we work to get people back home or find other housing, we will assess,” he said by email.