Alaska Chadux̂ Network Assists Cleanup Efforts Following Typhoon Halong in Western Alaska
Following the devastation caused by Typhoon Halong in western Alaska, response efforts continue as communities across the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta begin the long process of recovery.
The powerful storm brought severe flooding, damaging homes, infrastructure, and fuel storage across multiple villages.
The storm forced the evacuation of more than 1,600 residents and caused widespread flooding and damage across the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta. In the village of Kipnuk, floodwaters displaced homes, debris, and heating fuel tanks, creating environmental concerns as oil and other contaminants spread across the tundra and into nearby waterways relied upon for drinking water and subsistence activities.
Response crews from the Alaska Chadux̂ Network (ACN) deployed to assist with spill mitigation and environmental protection efforts alongside state and federal partners. Technicians worked to identify damaged tanks, siphon remaining fuel from compromised containers, and secure recovered oil to help prevent further contamination of the surrounding environment.
In an article by ICT News, ACN President and CEO Buddy Custard explained that the way heating fuel is stored in many western Alaska communities can make tanks particularly vulnerable during major flooding events.
“In most homes, these tanks can be buried below ground. But the permafrost Kipnuk is built on is too hard to dig into, so the tanks sit at ground level.”
As a result, powerful floodwaters can easily dislodge tanks and spread heating oil across the landscape.
Custard also noted that incidents like this reflect a changing response landscape in Alaska as warming temperatures and melting permafrost contribute to increased flooding in river and coastal communities.
“You’re seeing more and more flooding on the river system because of the permafrost melting… What we’re seeing now are more of these tank spills from houses, driven by environmental type incidents.”
While initial response efforts helped remove accessible fuel and secure damaged tanks, winter conditions in western Alaska limit how much cleanup work can be completed during the colder months. Once waterways freeze and snow covers the tundra, access to contaminated areas becomes significantly more difficult.
Additional cleanup work is expected to continue when conditions improve. Alaska Chadux̂ Network plans to return to the region in the spring to assist with ongoing response and recovery efforts as thawing conditions allow crews to access areas that were previously unreachable.
Despite the challenges posed by the storm and the remote environment, the resilience of western Alaska communities remains clear.
“The one thing about Alaskans, we’re a resilient lot.”
The full story, originally reported by ICT News, provides an in-depth look at the impacts of Typhoon Halong on communities in the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta and the environmental challenges that followed.
Read the full article: Post-Typhoon Halong: Contamination threatens subsistence, drinking water, a move back home
