Western Alaska Villages Plan Relocation After Ex-Typhoon Halong Devastation

Residents of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok vote overwhelmingly to move their communities inland after storm wrecked their coastal homes.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 11:38pm

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A vast, atmospheric landscape painting depicting the flooded remains of a coastal village, with the remnants of homes and buildings dwarfed by the swirling, turbulent waters that have consumed the community.As Western Alaska communities grapple with the devastating aftermath of ex-Typhoon Halong, the decision to relocate reflects the growing need for climate adaptation and resilience efforts in the region.Anchorage Today

Residents of the two Western Alaska communities hardest hit by the remnants of Typhoon Halong have reached a consensus about their futures: They want to move their villages entirely. In Kipnuk, where almost all of the approximately 700 residents were airlifted out after storm waters swallowed their community, tribal members have voted overwhelmingly to relocate. A similar consensus has been reached in Kwigillingok, a Yup'ik village of about 400 residents.

Why it matters

The devastating impacts of ex-Typhoon Halong on these remote coastal villages have forced residents to confront the realities of climate change and the need for more resilient infrastructure. The communities' decisions to relocate represent a significant shift in disaster response and recovery efforts in Alaska, as federal policies also evolve to better support these types of community-led relocation projects.

The details

In Kipnuk, 90% of homes were destroyed, while in Kwigillingok, about a third of the houses were knocked off their foundations and set afloat. Residents described harrowing experiences, with one man in Kipnuk jumping from his floating and rocking house and struggling for hours before being rescued. Displaced residents are now living in temporary quarters in Anchorage, Bethel, and other locations, facing challenges like stress, mental health issues, and housing shortages.

  • In October 2025, ex-Typhoon Halong slammed the remote region of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, forcing the evacuation of more than 1,600 residents.
  • In February 2026, a consensus was reached in Kwigillingok in favor of relocating the village to two potential new sites.
  • In March 2026, the Native Village of Kipnuk reported a 92% vote in favor of relocating the community to a higher-elevation site farther inland.

The players

Rayna Paul

Environmental manager for the Native Village of Kipnuk, the tribal government.

Dustin Evon

Tribal resilience coordinator for Kwigillingok.

Lucy Martin

Resilience assistant for the Kwigillingok tribal government.

James Benzschawel

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium emergency preparedness manager.

Bryan Fisher

Director of the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

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What they’re saying

“We got a really big number.”

— Rayna Paul, Environmental manager, Native Village of Kipnuk

“When I looked out the window right before the power went out, it was like a real-life horror movie. You could see graves rolling. You could see buildings floating away, boardwalks floating before it hit our house.”

— Lucy Martin, Resilience assistant, Kwigillingok tribal government

“This is the most severe disaster that I've responded to in my entire career.”

— Bryan Fisher, Director, Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

What’s next

More details about the relocation plans for Kwigillingok are expected to be released in April or May 2026.

The takeaway

The decisions by Kipnuk and Kwigillingok to relocate their communities in the wake of the devastating ex-Typhoon Halong highlight the growing need for climate adaptation and disaster resilience efforts in remote Alaska villages. These community-led relocation projects will likely serve as models for other at-risk communities as federal policies evolve to better support such initiatives.