Halong

It begins with a storm, a little girl, and a doll named Baby. But this story is about more than disaster. It's about what one family carried with them after a powerful storm tied to Typhoon Halong forced them to leave nearly everything behind.

In the wake of ex-typhoon Halong, more than 200 dogs were evacuated from the two villages hit hardest by the 2025 storm. One of them - Usukcaq - now lives in Nome with a new, but familiar family.

Listen to KYUK's live, bilingual call-in show - Typhoon Halong: One Year Later - recorded on Oct. 14, 2026.

This summer, Patrick Andrew’s family returned to the coastal village of Kipnuk while he and his wife worked as part of the community’s rebuild in the wake of ex-typhoon Halong.

Just days before ex-typhoon Halong, Marie White traveled from Bethel to her hometown of Kwigillingok to celebrate her 67th birthday among her daughters and grandchildren. This year, the whole family is back together in Bethel, with little idea when they may be able to return home.

Over the past year, Kipnuk residents and contractors have been working to repair the storm-battered village. Crews on the ground say it’s a physical — and emotional — investment, even as the long-term future of the community remains in question.

In October 2025, daily life in dozens of Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta communities was suddenly interrupted when the remnants of Typhoon Halong slammed into the coast. Over the past year, the crisis has shined a light on what is still missing from disaster response, and what tribal communities need to protect a way of life bound to the land.

Alaskans seeking an appeal may provide additional documentation of damages, including receipts and bills for eligible repairs, repair receipts from contractors or repair services, proof of ownership, or other information to substantiate an appeal.

The agency says assistance may still be available for many disaster-related needs, and that some applicants may only need to submit additional information or supporting documentation to appeal decisions they received by mail.

Rental assistance may still be available for people who have not yet applied. Those who have already received rental funds from FEMA and need continued help can apply for the agency’s Continued Temporary Housing Assistance.