Mass Airlift Underway as Alaska Storm Wipes Out Villages

Military helicopters and large transports rescue Alaskans whose homes were destroyed.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, October 17, 2025 at 02:43 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Alaska Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III aircrew, assigned to the 176th Wing, evacuate approximately 300 displaced western Alaska residents following Typhoon Halong, Oct. 15, 2025. [Credit: Alaska National Guard/Staff Sgt. Joseph Moon]

Key Takeaways:

Coastal Alaskan villages have been devastated by a powerful storm, fueled by Typhoon Halong remnants, causing widespread destruction including washed-away homes, compromised infrastructure, and at least one fatality.
A significant military airlift is underway to evacuate hundreds of survivors from these remote communities, transporting them to shelters as far as 500 miles away due to overwhelming local capacity and compromised utilities.
The recovery effort faces major logistical challenges due to the area's remoteness and the scale of destruction, with officials concerned that many villages may not be habitable by winter.

See a mistake? Contact us.

What has been called one of the “most significant airlifts in Alaskan history” is underway as military helicopters and C-17s are transporting hundreds of people from coastal villages left devastated by a powerful storm that swept through the area on October 12.

The storm, fueled by the remnants of Typhoon Halong, washed away homes in low-lying areas, some of them with people still inside. At least one person was killed, and two others are missing.