An in-depth look at how Native Alaskan communities are coping with the aftermath of Typhoon Halong, the climate challenges they face, and how resilience and adaptation are shaping their future.
In late 2024, the remnants of Typhoon Halong swept across Alaska’s western coastline, triggering destructive storm surges, widespread flooding, and erosion that left several Native Alaskan communities reeling. The storm, fueled by unusually warm ocean temperatures, underscores the growing vulnerability of Arctic and sub-Arctic regions to extreme weather events once rare in these latitudes.
As federal and local leaders assess the damage, the focus is shifting toward sustainable recovery efforts – and the broader conversation about how climate change is reshaping life in Alaska’s coastal villages.
The Path and Impact of Typhoon Halong’s Remnants
Typhoon Halong originated in the western Pacific before transitioning into a powerful extratropical storm as it moved northward. By the time it reached the Bering Sea, the system carried hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall. Coastal communities such as Nome, Shaktoolik, and Golovin bore the brunt of the devastation.
High tides and storm surges inundated coastal roads and homes, while strong winds uprooted essential infrastructure including fuel storage tanks, electrical lines, and small harbors used for subsistence fishing. Dozens of families were displaced, and subsistence hunters lost critical food stores of dried fish and seal meat.
Native Alaskan Communities at the Frontline of Climate Change
The storm’s impact extends far beyond immediate property loss. For many Alaska Native communities, these weather events threaten cultural survival. Villages like Shishmaref and Newtok are fighting an accelerating battle against shoreline erosion and melting permafrost, which weaken ground stability and make traditional home sites uninhabitable.
According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, more than 30 Native Alaskan villages are at imminent risk of flooding or erosion. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also reports that the frequency and intensity of autumn storms in the Bering Sea have increased over recent decades.
#BREAKING🔸 🇺🇸 US Coast Guard & Alaska National Guard rescue 51 people after Typhoon Halong remnants cause severe flooding in Kipnuk and Kwigillingok. #USA #Alaska #Flooding #Rescue pic.twitter.com/VcamSnnb7E
— Twilight (@TwilightDewy) October 16, 2025
Economic and Ecological Repercussions
Beyond immediate damage, storms like Halong disrupt vital economic activities. Subsistence fishing and hunting seasons are delayed or canceled, threatening food security and livelihoods. Meanwhile, prolonged flooding damages freshwater ecosystems, affecting salmon spawning patterns that sustain both local diets and commercial fisheries.
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has highlighted the growing strain on coastal wastewater systems overloaded by floodwaters, which pose ongoing public health risks.
Federal Assistance and Local Resilience Efforts
In response to the disaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Alaska Division of Homeland Security coordinated rapid assessments and emergency aid. However, rebuilding is a complex process. Many villages are accessible only by air or boat, delaying the delivery of materials and personnel.
To enhance resilience, local leaders are increasingly emphasizing community-led adaptation strategies. Relocation projects, such as the move of Newtok residents to the higher ground of Mertarvik, provide a model for other at-risk settlements. These efforts require careful coordination among tribal governments, federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations such as the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Alaska is hit by severe flooding that carries away homes.#Alaska pic.twitter.com/44Rldg2KXO
— Science Joy (@InsideOurBodies) October 13, 2025
Incorporating Traditional Knowledge in Climate Solutions
One lesson emerging from Halong’s aftermath is the value of Indigenous traditional knowledge in disaster planning. Elders recall historical flood patterns, ice thickness cycles, and migration routes of marine mammals – insights that complement meteorological data. Integrating this knowledge helps communities better anticipate environmental shifts and plan evacuation routes or relocation sites.
Looking Ahead – Building Long-Term Climate Resilience
As Alaska continues to warm at more than twice the global average, the likelihood of intense storms reaching northern latitudes will rise. Strengthening coastal defenses through natural buffers, modern infrastructure, and community planning will be essential.
Experts recommend investing in renewable energy to reduce reliance on vulnerable fuel shipments, improving communications systems for emergency alerts, and securing federal funding for climate adaptation research.
The aftermath of Typhoon Halong serves as a stark reminder that Alaska’s climate challenges are not isolated regional issues – they reflect global trends demanding collective action.
Key Takeaways and Future Outlook
1. Climate-driven storms are no longer rare events in Alaska; they represent a growing pattern.
2. Native Alaskan communities are on the frontline and deserve long-term adaptation support, not just short-term relief.
3. Blending science with traditional ecological knowledge strengthens local resilience.
4. Coordinated policy action and sustained funding can turn vulnerability into a model of global adaptation.
As Alaska rebuilds from Typhoon Halong’s remnants, the story becomes one not only of recovery but of transformation – a call for resilience rooted in community strength and ecological awareness. Together, science, policy, and Indigenous wisdom can chart a sustainable path forward for Alaska’s coastal future.
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