In the aftermath of Typhoon Halong's devastating impact on Alaska's southwest coast, a massive airlift operation is underway to evacuate hundreds of residents from the affected coastal villages. The storm's record-breaking storm surge swept away homes, leaving 1,500 residents in makeshift shelters. The crisis has brought to light the Trump administration's cuts to federal grants intended to help small, predominantly Indigenous villages prepare for and mitigate the risks of storms. A $20 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to Kipnuk, a village inundated by floodwaters, was terminated by the Trump administration, sparking controversy and debate among environmental groups. The communities of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok had previously requested the state to evacuate residents, and approximately 300 evacuees are being airlifted to Anchorage, hundreds of miles away. The incident commander, Mark Roberts, announced that two villages require full-scale evacuation, and one person has died while two remain missing. This critical situation has raised concerns about the vulnerability of these communities and the need for enhanced disaster preparedness and support.
