An immense storm surge from the remnants of Typhoon Halong swamped western Alaska, killing one person, leaving two missing and forcing a massive airlift of more than 1,000 residents from low-lying villages. Kipnuk and Kwigillingok were hit hardest, with water more than 6 feet above normal tides and scores of homes destroyed, pushing evacuees into crowded shelters from Bethel to Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. Infrastructure failures plagued several communities, and attention turned to Trump-era cuts, including a terminated $20 million EPA grant for Kipnuk. Displaced families described chaos, loss—and a resolve to rebuild.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.