While most of the world was contemplating the peace agreements in the Middle East, Alaska started experiencing its own problems. Although summer is tourist season up there, one may consider changing dates for visiting the western coast of Alaska. They experienced a powerful typhoon accompanied by devastating floods.
Details
In the late-night hours of Oct. 11, Typhoon Halong slammed Alaska’s southwest coast. With it came hurricane-force winds and record flooding to numerous Alaska Native villages along the coast.
Evacuees and rescuers describe massive destruction this way: utility poles snapped in half, boardwalks uprooted, houses floated off their foundations, some with families still inside. According to the state, more than a thousand people are displaced, with some having no home to return to.
Where Is This?
The effects occurred across the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Unfortunately, this area is hundreds of miles from the U.S. road system. It includes dozens of small villages scattered throughout.
The floods have hit remote, coastal towns the hardest. Hundreds of Alaskans have been evacuated.
Origins
The devastating floods were fueled by remnants of Typhoon Halong. This originated in the northern Philippine Sea on October 5.
This typhoon brought massive flooding to Alaska, primarily across the western coast on Monday, and dumped more than 6 feet of water in some areas. Along with coastal flooding, wind gusts reached 50 to 100 mph in some of the communities.
Rebuild?
Since most of the affected areas are in rural regions, there is limited available housing in the area, compounded by widespread flooding and a housing shortage. Almost all of the supplies have to come in by barge – from plywood to nails to windows – and that will not happen in winter. You cannot truck it in – there are no roads. Planes can only fly in small quantities because the runways are short and not designed for cargo planes. The National Guard might be able to help fly in supplies. However, homeowners still need people who can handle construction and other repair work. Even if national or state help is approved, it would be next summer before most homes could be rebuilt.
