Hundreds Evacuated โขfrom โขWestern Alaskaโ Villagesโข After Historic Storm
KIPNUK,โค Alaska – A historic mass โevacuation isโฃ underway in Western alaska after a powerful โขstormโข caused widespread devastation to coastal communities.โฃ hundreds of residents are being airlifted from remote villages accessible onyl by air,โข with many โheading to the regional hub of Bethel โand other safe shelters.
The โขevacuation began in responseโ to theโ storm’s impact, leavingโฃ residentsโค facing immense hardship as winter approaches. “People are devastated,” said Jacquiโค Lang, who is assisting with the evacuation โฃefforts. “They don’t wantโ to leave.”
As of Wednesday night, October 15, 2025, sheltering operations hadโค expanded beyond bethel, were the armory building housing aroundโ 100 evacuees was nearing capacity.โค State emergency management โofficials reported thatโ “hundreds ofโฃ survivorsโ are being relocated to safe, warm sheltersโ outside the region in โcoordination with โlocal communities, tribal organizations, the Yukon-Kuskokwimโ Health Corporation, and the Association โof โvillage Council Presidents.”
Efforts are also focused on assessing and repairing damage to โhomes to enable residents to return quickly. “We’re going toโค look to do that in every โคcommunity that โwe can,โ to get people โขback into their homes,” stated Zidek, a state official involved in the response.โ “We’re preparing โขto โขprovide intermediate and long term shelter to folks โthat cannot return to theirโ home in the short term.”
The Americanโค Red Cross has โฃdeployed additional staff to Anchorage andโ Bethel toโค supportโค sheltering and mass care needs. The World Central Kitchen โขis providing meals to survivorsโข in shelters, and The Salvation Armyโ is coordinating donations โขand โshelter resources. โค
Stateโ emergency โoperations centers have received mutual aid from Colorado, Virginia,โ South Carolina, Texas, and Arkansas.
Daily News reporter Bella Biondiniโ contributed to this โคreport.