Senator Lisa Murkowski has warned that some communities in Alaska could take years to recover after a powerful storm caused widespread destruction. Speaking at the Alaska Federation of Natives' convention on Saturday, she described visiting Kipnuk, where officials estimate 90% of structures were destroyed by flooding and extreme conditions.
The storm, remnants of Typhoon Halong, struck on the weekend of 11 October, battering remote south-west Alaska with strong winds, rain, record storm surges and flooding. More than 1,500 people were displaced, homes were inundated, and at least one person was killed, with two others missing. The US Coast Guard rescued dozens of people.
Governor Mike Dunleavy said on 16 October that it could take up to 18 months before many residents can return. He wrote to President Donald Trump requesting a major disaster declaration to unlock federal resources, noting that some damaged communities may not be viable for winter occupancy due to Alaska's harsh Arctic climate.
Murkowski, along with Senator Dan Sullivan and Representative Nick Begich, urged Trump to approve the request, stating the disaster surpasses the state's capacity to respond without federal support. The Alaska National Guard has airlifted 633 survivors from Bethel to Anchorage, and sheltering operations continue in multiple communities.
The storm's impact has also drawn attention to a cancelled $20m EPA grant for Kipnuk intended to prevent coastal erosion and flooding. The Trump administration defended the cancellation, but Murkowski noted the devastation underscores the need for future preventive funding.
