Alaska is working to rescue storm victims by helicopter and plane in a historic airlift.

 Alaska is working to rescue storm victims by helicopter and plane in a historic airlift.

A storm brought record-high water levels to two low-lying Native Alaskan communities and swept away homes, some of which had people inside. At least one person is dead and two are missing.

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One of the most significant airlifts in Alaskan history is underway by helicopter and military transport aircraft, transporting hundreds of people from coastal villages devastated by high waves and strong winds from the remnants of Typhoon Halong last weekend.

The storm brought record-high water levels to two low-lying Native Alaskan communities and swept away homes, some of which had people inside. At least one person is dead and two are missing. Temporary shelters were immediately set up and expanded to accommodate approximately 1,500 people, an extraordinary number in a sparsely populated region where communities are only accessible by air or water at this time of year.

The remoteness and scale of the devastation created challenges in mobilizing resources. Damage assessments are coming in slowly as relief workers shift from initial search-and-rescue operations to stabilizing or restoring basic services.

The communities of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, near the Bering Sea, saw water levels more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) above the highest normal tide line. In Kipnuk village, a village of about 700 people, about 121 homes were destroyed.

Jeremy Zidek, a spokesman for the State Emergency Management Office, said leaders have requested the state government to evacuate more than 1,000 residents from those villages.

According to the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, about 300 people were evacuated Wednesday to Anchorage, about 500 miles (805 kilometers) east of the damaged coastal villages. Zidek said people were being taken to the Alaska Airlines Center, a sports and events complex with a capacity of about 400 people.

Officials said in a briefing Thursday that the shelter closest to the home – in Bethel, the Southwest Alaska regional center – was at full capacity and food supplies were "nearly exhausted."

Reports said mobile phone service had been restored in Kwigillingok, and toilets were working again at the Kwigillingok school where about 350 people had taken shelter Tuesday night, according to a statement from State Emergency Management.

"Many homes sustained significant damage, and community leadership is instructing residents not to re-enter their homes due to safety concerns," it said.

Damage was also severe in other villages. Water, sewer, and well systems were not working in Napaskiak, and the Coast Guard was expected to arrive Thursday to assess a spill of 2,000 gallons (7,600 liters) of waste oil in another village.

Emergency management officials reported that in Kwigillingok and Kipnuk, some homes are uninhabitable even after emergency repairs, and others will be uninhabitable by winter. Meteorologists predict rain and snow may fall in the region this weekend, and average temperatures will soon drop below freezing.

State Emergency Management Agency Commander Mark Roberts said the immediate focus is "ensuring people are safe, warm, and cared for while we work with our partners to restore essential services." Zidek did not know how long the evacuation would take and said officials were looking for additional shelters. He said the aim is to move people from group shelters to hotel rooms or hostels.

The unfolding crisis in southwest Alaska has drawn attention to the Trump administration's cuts to grants intended to help small, mostly tribal villages prepare for storms or reduce disaster risks.

For example, Kipnuk, which was inundated by floodwaters, had a $20 million US Environmental Protection Agency grant terminated by the Trump administration, a move challenged by environmental groups. According to a federal website that tracks government spending, the grant was intended to protect the boardwalk used by community residents to get around the community, as well as to protect 1,400 feet (430 meters) of river from erosion.

Limited work was done on the project before the grant expired. According to the Public Rights Project, which represents Kipnuk, the village purchased a bulldozer for shipping goods and briefly hired a bookkeeper.

The group said that no single project could prevent the recent flooding. But removing abandoned fuel tanks and other materials to prevent them from falling into the river during the 2025 construction season could have been possible.

"What's happening in Kipnuk demonstrates the true cost of withdrawing support already given to frontline communities," said Jill Habig, CEO of the Public Rights Project. "These grants were designed to help local governments prepare for and adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change. When this commitment is broken, it jeopardizes people's safety, homes, and futures."