President Donald Trump on Wednesday approved $25 million in federal disaster assistance to support recovery efforts in Western Alaska following the destructive impacts of Typhoon Halong.
The funding follows a request from Mike Dunleavy and Alaska’s congressional delegation, who sought a major disaster declaration after the storms displaced around 2,000 residents and devastated remote villages.
The aid will cover initial recovery expenses and unlock further federal assistance, including infrastructure repair, housing reconstruction, and unemployment relief. Some of the hardest-hit communities include Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, where damage assessments show nearly 90 % and 35 % of structures destroyed, respectively.
Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan called the swift approval a “down payment” on broader recovery efforts, emphasizing that more aid will be needed as cleanup continues into the winter months.
Gov. Dunleavy said in a statement that the declaration “will be instrumental for ongoing response and recovery efforts,” and thanked President Trump for acting quickly to support Alaskans in their time of need.
With winter rapidly approaching, state officials say the $25 million is only the beginning of a long rebuilding process for Western Alaska’s remote coastlines and infrastructure.
