U.S.
Alaska National Guard participates in one of the largest evacuations in the state’s history
Stars and Stripes
October 16, 2025
An Alaska Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III, assigned to the 176th Wing, arrives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, with approximately 300 evacuated residents from western Alaska, Oct. 15, 2025. (Alejandro Pena/Alaska National Guard)
The Alaska Air and Army National Guard and the Coast Guard are among the agencies working to evacuate hundreds in the state’s remote coastal villages after the remnants of Typhoon Halong brought a record storm surge to the area, in what may become the largest airlift in the state’s history.
About 1,500 people were residing in makeshift shelters on Thursday, with shelters near the affected areas at capacity. About 300 people were evacuated in a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the Air National Guard’s 176th Wing on Wednesday to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage.
The villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, which were impacted the most, held a largely indigenous population of about 1,000 before the evacuations. The largely populated area presented a challenge to rescue crews.
Alaska Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III aircrew help transport Alaska Organized Militia members and emergency supplies from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to Bethel, Alaska, Oct. 15, 2025. (Alejandro Pena/Alaska National Guard)
Alaska Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III aircrew help transport Alaska Organized Militia members and emergency supplies from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to Bethel, Alaska, Oct. 15, 2025. (Alejandro Pena/Alaska National Guard)
Alaska Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III aircrew, assigned to the 176th Wing, work with Alaska Army National Guard UH-60L aircrew, with the 207th Aviation Troop Command, to evacuate approximately 300 displaced western Alaska residents from Bethel, Alaska, Oct. 15, 2025. (Alaska National Guard)
Crews from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak have also participated in the rescues, evacuating dozens on Monday, the agency said, and the service is expected to assess oil spills in the area.
The flooding has killed one and left two missing.
Emergency responders are now shifting from search-and-rescue operations to restoring infrastructure and services, though some homes cannot be reoccupied even with emergency repairs. Officials said in a briefing Thursday that cellphone service had been restored to Kwigillingok.
President Donald Trump asked Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy “to let Alaskans know he is monitoring the situation and more help is on the way,” the governor said on X Thursday.
Residents of remote villages in Western Alaska were evacuated to Anchorage, Oct. 16, 2025. (Mike Dunleavy via X)
Displaced Alaskans board buses after arriving at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Oct. 15, 2025. (Alejandro Pena/Alaska National Guard)
Residents of remote villages in Western Alaska were evacuated to Anchorage, Oct. 16, 2025. (Mike Dunleavy via X)
Members of the State Emergency Operations Center and the Alaska Organized Militia coordinate storm response operations at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Oct. 14, 2025. (Alejandro Pena/Alaska National Guard)