Massive Storm hits Western Alaska

[jenifermg0]

This past weekend a massive storm (the remnants of Typhoon Merbok) hit the western coast of Alaska.
It has caused massive damage to several communities just as they are getting ready for freeze up.
Fortunately, there has been no loss of life as of the most recent reports.

These are some of the communities hit: Nome, Unalakleet, Kotzebue, Newtok, Hooper Bay, Golovin, Shaktoolik and Kotlik and many others.

Many of these communities are partially, if not completely, inundated with sea water.
Many have had their tank farms (holding heating fuel and gasoline) demolished.
Homes have been washed away or destroyed by the waves and wind.
In Nome, a building was pushed UP RIVER until it hit a bridge. Also in Nome, a local restaurant burned to the ground. The fire engines had to travel thru a foot or more of water just to get to it to fight the fire and the winds kept whipping it back up every time they thought they had it under control. They eventually had to knock it down to keep it from spreading to other buildings.

The storm was practically the size of our entire state! To put that in perspective - that means it was literally the size of HALF the contiguous United States! The first link below has a great picture that shows the sheer enormity of the storm!! I don't expect you all to read all the articles - just there so you can see some pictures of the damage! And keep in mind, this is only a fraction of the pictures I have been seeing on the news and on local Facebook groups.

This is a great video from several different areas: Live blog: Flooding, damage reported across western Alaska coastal communities in wake of historic, powerful storm (alaskasnewssource.com)

Typhoon's remnants could bring seas of up to 54 feet toward Alaska's coast : NPR
Alaska historic storm: Communities hit by flooding, power outages (axios.com)
Worst storm in years batters Western Alaska coast (adn.com)
Storm lashes Alaskan shore, bringing severe coastal flooding and prompting evacuations | CNN
Storm in Alaska September 2022, Heavy Flooding in Cities Caused Homes Destroyed - Bing video
2022 Storms, Transportation & Public Facilities, State of Alaska

[Pris]

How terrible for all of those affected. I can't begin to imagine the extreme losses. Sending prayers and pixies for all those impacted.

[gingerj1]

Wow, that's awful. I hope you and yours are safe.

[jenifermg0]

I am in is referred to South Central Alaska.
I am about 500 or so miles from this mess.
We got some pretty stiff winds on Saturday, but it was sunny and gorgeous.
The winds tore up the leaves on the trees, but no damage in our area.

[joelsmom]

Wow! That is an enormous storm!! Best wishes to all affected.

[allgiggles]

Wow! I hadn't heard anything about this!

[jenifermg0]

Doesn't surprise me. While there has been some national coverage, it hasn't been a huge amount and I'm sure that the coverage of Fiona has overshadowed it - not that I'm down-playing the severity and devastation caused by Fiona.
It often comes down to the number of people affected by these disasters.
Nome - the biggest of the affected communities has only around 9,000 and the other towns are exponentially smaller down to only a few hundred or less in some.

[allgiggles]

I think some of it is also location. I'm on the east coast, so Puerto Rico is much closer to us than Alaska. I'm still just surprised that I didn't hear *something*.

[jenifermg0]

This link has some good pictures of some of the impact!

Flooding, damage reported across western Alaska coastal communities in wake of historic, powerful storm (msn.com)

[Cam22]

Prayers and pixie dust for all those impacted! I saw some coverage of this on our news and was amazed at the devastation.

[chezp]

I'd seen posts on Facebook about this, so I was aware. How terrible for everyone affected. My thoughts are with them. I wonder if this is linked to the typhoon that's hit Japan - over nine million people evacuated from memory. There's certainly some horrendous weather around at the moment.

[jenifermg0]

The storm was the remains of Typhoon Merbok. However, there is yet another typhoon (not sure of name) hammering Japan currently. It is expected to break up in the Pacific before making landfall again. And yes - horrendous weather!!!!!!! And hitting such a densely populated area just makes it some much worse!

[jenifermg0]

Here in South Central, we are now getting a pretty constant rain. The remains of the remnants of Merbok. Fortunately, no wind, so just gray skies and rain for the next several days.

Clean up has started. We can't dilly-dally around. We are rapidly approaching freeze up.
At that point, the only way to get supplies into the main hubs for distribution out to the smaller villages will be by plane.
Pretty sure the last barge has already been out that way so getting another out there will be problematic.
From the main hubs, smaller planes can transport items to some villages and others can have stuff brought out via 4-wheelers over the tundra.
Guessing that some supplies will have to be shipped out via the National Guard in their big helicopters.
So many communities lost a lot of their infrastructure so they have to get it all back up and working before the snow flies!


As storm-battered Western Alaska takes stock of damage and begins cleanup, officials pledge help (adn.com)

[BriarRose4]

Sending prayers and pixies for all those impacted.

[Cam22]

Here in South Central, we are now getting a pretty constant rain. The remains of the remnants of Merbok. Fortunately, no wind, so just gray skies and rain for the next several days.

Clean up has started. We can't dilly-dally around. We are rapidly approaching freeze up.
At that point, the only way to get supplies into the main hubs for distribution out to the smaller villages will be by plane.
Pretty sure the last barge has already been out that way so getting another out there will be problematic.
From the main hubs, smaller planes can transport items to some villages and others can have stuff brought out via 4-wheelers over the tundra.
Guessing that some supplies will have to be shipped out via the National Guard in their big helicopters.
So many communities lost a lot of their infrastructure so they have to get it all back up and working before the snow flies!


As storm-battered Western Alaska takes stock of damage and begins cleanup, officials pledge help (adn.com)

Sending even more pixies for getting everything in order before the freeze up!

[KathyL]

I saw the devastation on the news. It's so sad for all that were impacted.