FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 18, 2025 Division of Homeland Security and Emergency ManagementSEOC Update: 2025 October West Coast Storm â Situation UpdateJOINT BASE ELMENDORF RICHARDSON, Alaska â The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) remains at Level 4 â Major Incident Response, Alaskaâs highest level of activation, coordinating the state response and recovery to impacts from devastating west coast storms including Typhoon Halong.Governor Mike Dunleavy, who declared a State Disaster Emergency on October 9, signed a Request for Federal Assistance for a Major Disaster Declaration on October 16, which has been forwarded to President Trump for consideration. The Governor visited communities in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta disaster area yesterday with senior state officials, seeing damage firsthand.As evacuations out of flooded communities conclude, support for shelter operations continue in multiple communities including Bethel and Anchorage. At the same time, SEOC is deploying personnel and supplies into impacted communities to support interim infrastructure restoration and emergency home repairs. In addition, operational planning is underway to transition evacuees from large congregate shelters back to their homes or to longer-term temporary housing solutions.SEOC coordinated airlift evacuations this week from storm ravaged communities that could no longer support survivor residency following the storm. Survivors were airlifted first from communities to Bethel. The shelter capacity in Bethel was exceeded, so survivors were then flown onward to Anchorage shelters. Airlifts moved 633 survivors and eight pallets of personal belongings. Last night alone 61 evacuated individuals were airlifted from Bethel to Anchorage. Some survivor pets were evacuated to Bethel for shelter while others were flown to Anchorage and reunited with their owners. Yesterday, the Alaska Army National Guard provided rotary-wing support for evacuations from Tuntutuliak, Pakiak, Nightmute, and Quigillingok, and conducted a medical evacuation from Kipnuk. Aviation crews also completed storm-damage assessments in Nightmute and transported 61 individuals from Bethel to Anchorage.The American Red Cross, supported by the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska Department of Health, University of Alaska, and other volunteer organizations, continues to manage sheltering and feeding operations. World Central Kitchen is providing meal service within shelters. The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium is supplementing meals with traditional Alaska Native foods. The Salvation Army is assisting with donation management, sheltering, and mass care. Additional Red Cross personnel are stationed in Bethel to support local shelter operations.Those wishing to assist are encouraged to make cash donations, which provide the greatest flexibility to meet survivor needs. Contributions can be made through the Alaska Community Foundationâs Western Alaska Disaster Relief Fund at https://alaskacf.orgThe SEOC is currently staffed with more than 70 representatives from state agencies, non-governmental organizations, community groups, and federal partners coordinating ongoing response and recovery efforts. Through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), 19 personnel from 10 statesâColorado, Virginia, South Carolina, Maine, North Carolina, Washington, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Texasâare assisting Alaskaâs response efforts.As of this morning, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHS&EM) has received 536 applications for Individual Assistance (IA).Survivors in designated disaster areas may register for the State of Alaskaâs Individual Assistance program:⢠Online: https://ready.alaska.gov/ia⢠By phone: 1-844-445-7131The program provides financial assistance for damages to primary residences, vehicles, essential personal property, and medical, funeral, or dental needs directly resulting from the declared disaster. Northwest Arctic Borough (NWAB) Kotzebue: Of the 66 homes identified with storm-related damage, 15 have been fully repaired and restored to pre-storm conditions. Another 17 homes are currently under active repair. The operational focus is transitioning from emergency home repairs to shoreline debris cleanup.Kivalina: Water levels have receded, and as of October 15, no residents were sheltered at the school.Deering: The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is conducting on-site assessments to evaluate storm-related infrastructure damage. Seward Peninsula Elim: Electrical service has been restored to the east side of the community as of October 15. GCI communication services are also back online.St. Michael: Power has been restored throughout the community. However, there are reports of low-hanging and downed power lines, as well as damaged poles. Support has been requested from the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC) to assist with power infrastructure repairs.Stebbins: The community has sustained damage to multiple structures, including roofs, the local school, and the airfield, which has experienced runway erosion. Power poles are leaning; however, the community remains intertied with St. Michael. Yukon-Kuskokwim DeltaBethel: Following the C-17 evacuation of 61 residents to Anchorage on October 17, no evacuees remained sheltered at the Bethel Armory overnight. The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) is transitioning local shelter operations to the American Red Cross and is now focusing on regional damage assessments, debris removal, and home winterization planning.Kipnuk: Damage assessments confirm catastrophic destruction, with an estimated 90% of structures lost. Extensive infrastructure failures include the collapse of boardwalks and utility supports, resulting in compromised raw-water and sewer systems. The fresh water supply is suspected to be contaminated with fuel and sewage.Kwigillingok: Preliminary assessments indicate approximately 35% structural loss across the community. Several homes have been displaced from their foundations, and the southern portion of the community sustained severe damage, including near-total boardwalk destruction. One fatality has been confirmed, and two individuals remain missing.Nightmute: The Alaska Organized Militia (AKOM) is evacuating 11 additional residents today. At least 10 homes have floated off their foundations, resulting in the loss of heating oil tanks.Tuntutuliak: The community is experiencing a critical fuel shortage. Two drums of engine oil for the power plant remain unaccounted for, leaving only four days of operational capacity. Assessments report significant infrastructure damage, including over 7,600 feet of damaged or missing boardwalk and the collapse of the main bridge to the landfill.Mountain Village: Power has been restored. Reported damages include roof and siding losses, as well as downed power lines obstructing local roads.Napakiak: The Boil Water Notice for the community was lifted on October 16. Repairs continue on individual sewer tanks serving the communityâs flush-and-haul system that were damaged during flooding.Quinhagak: A Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation Remote Maintenance Worker (RMW) has made temporary repairs to the damaged raw water line. Currently, only one of the three intake pumps is operational.Interagency Partner OperationsAlaska National Guard (AKNG): A total of 103 personnel are currently activated, with additional deployments anticipated. The final C-17 evacuation flight from Bethel to Anchorage is scheduled for tomorrow. Army rotary-wing aircraft continue to support evacuations and damage assessments across multiple communities. Following completion of these missions, any remaining evacuations will be managed through commercial aviation resources.American Red Cross: Mass care operations remain active in Anchorage, where 152 evacuees are sheltered at the Egan Center and 122 at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). A team of seven new responders has arrived in Bethel to assume shelter management from YKHC.Municipality of Anchorage (MOA): The MOA Emergency Operations Center has identified 1,000 hotel rooms and 100 apartments available for non-congregate sheltering of evacuees.Anchorage School District (ASD): More than 25 displaced students have been enrolled and will begin attending classes on Monday. Bus service from shelters to municipal recreation centers for showers and activities will resume today.Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP): AVCP staff are preparing to deploy to Anchorage shelters on Monday to assist evacuees with obtaining replacement Tribal identification cards. The organization is also coordinating with YKHC to support home repairs and debris removal efforts in affected YK Delta... - Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management | Zootzle
