Alaskan Village Fights to Rebuild After Devastating Typhoon Floods

In mid-October 2025, the remote Alaskan village of Kwigillingok was hit hard by the remnants of Typhoon Halong. The storm surge uprooted homes and left one person dead, with two others still missing. While most of the village's residents evacuated to nearby cities, a small group of 7 chose to remain behind.

Darrel John, one of the residents who stayed, said he "couldn't leave [his] community." However, the future of Kwigillingok and other villages damaged by the severe flooding remains uncertain. The state of Alaska is focused on repairing the villages and supporting the over 1,600 displaced people, but it could take up to 18 months.

Many of the displaced residents are now in temporary housing in Anchorage, struggling to adapt to a lifestyle very different from their traditional subsistence living. Some have already said they don't plan to return, as the village faces the growing threats of rising seas, erosion, melting permafrost, and worsening storms.

Relocating these villages is an enormous challenge, both logistically and financially. The nearby village of Newtok only completed its relocation last year, at a cost of over $160 million. As the climate crisis continues to impact Alaska's coastal communities, more villages may be forced to consider similar drastic measures to ensure their long-term survival.