The remnants of Typhoon Halong tore through western Alaska over the weekend, leaving behind “absolute devastation,” according to U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Culpepper. Hurricane-force winds and powerful surges swept through the coastal village, destroying homes and flooding entire communities.

In the hardest hit areas of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, at least 51 people and two dogs were rescued by air and sea. Alaska State Troopers confirmed one woman was found dead and two people remain missing in Kwigillingok. Search efforts continue by boat and helicopter as cold weather approaches, according to Yahoo News.

Most residents in both communities sought refuge in local schools, according to the Coastal Villages Region Fund. Power outages, contaminated water systems, and damaged home-heating stoves have left many families struggling to recover. In villages that rely heavily on store subsistence foods and local fuel supplies, the losses are expected to make the coming months substantially difficult.

Jamie Jenkins, a Napakiak resident, called the storm the worst she's ever seen, describing how families evacuated by boat as the water rose. Individuals were going house to house rescuing neighbors, and practically the whole community was at the school.

Senator Lisa Murkowski warned that the frequency and intensity of these storms are increasing, and “the time to act on it is now,” she stated, urging faster progress on erosion mitigation projects.