The Alaska Native village of Kwigillingok on the southwestern coast is seeking to relocate after experiencing significant impact from the remnants of Typhoon Halong on October 11. The storm displaced homes, led to one fatality, and resulted in the evacuation of 678 individuals from Kwigillingok and the nearby village of Kipnuk. This event has intensified calls for the village's relocation, a move previously considered due to decades of challenges from climate change, including permafrost thaw, erosion, and increased flooding. State and federal officials are currently prioritizing disaster aid while indicating that discussions on relocation require further study and are expected to be lengthy.
Recent Storm Impact
On October 11, the remnants of Typhoon Halong affected Kwigillingok, a remote Alaska Native village of approximately 400 residents. The storm caused residences to move from their foundations, with one resident, Noah Andrew Sr., 74, reporting his house floating approximately two miles inland. Another resident, Darrel John, noted the rapid speed of the water level rise; 45 homes were carried away, though his piling-supported house withstood the event. The storm resulted in one fatality, and two individuals remain missing within the community.
Following the storm, 678 individuals were evacuated from Kwigillingok and Kipnuk. Many of these evacuees are currently residing in larger urban centers such as Bethel or Anchorage, located 400 miles away. Recovery efforts have been slowed by winter conditions.
Long-Term Climate Challenges
Kwigillingok has contended with the effects of climate change for decades, including permafrost thaw, erosion, and increased flooding. While autumn flooding is a recurring occurrence, local residents described the October storm as distinct in its intensity. The village has previously sought to relocate to higher ground further inland to maintain community cohesion, but a defined plan or committed funding for this relocation has not been established. If residents return to these locations, they face ongoing safety risks due to warmer climate conditions leading to more frequent flooding, erosion, and thawing permafrost.
Community Desire for Relocation
Following the recent typhoon, many Kwigillingok residents have expressed a reinforced desire to relocate their village. Noah Andrew Sr. stated his wish to move, and the majority of the community supports relocation. Residents propose moving the village approximately 27 miles northeast to higher, inland terrain, and anticipate state and federal governmental support for this effort. If relocation proceeds, residents plan to continue utilizing the current village site for traditional subsistence activities such as seal hunting and establishing fish camps.
Historical Context and Cultural Implications
Many Alaska Native villages were established in the 1950s by the federal government's Bureau of Indian Affairs around schools, without incorporating future climate change impacts into their planning. Some sites were selected based on logistical factors, such as barge accessibility for lumber delivery. Historically, Yup'ik families practiced seasonal migration, which allowed settlements to adapt to environmental changes; this practice was altered by fixed infrastructure and consolidated communities.
For many residents of Kwigillingok and Kipnuk, Yugtun, the Yup'ik language, is their primary language, and subsistence hunting and fishing are integral to their culture. Community members have raised concerns that prolonged residence in English-dominant urban areas could lead to a loss of the Yup'ik language and a diminished connection to traditional land-based subsistence practices, which are foundational to Yup'ik culture. Cultural anthropologist Ann Fienup-Riordan noted that sustained use within communities and homes is crucial for the language's survival. Elders and community leaders in western Alaska assert that the federal government bears an obligation to assist Yup'ik villages requiring relocation, partly due to the historical role of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Official Response and Future Planning
State and federal officials are currently prioritizing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster aid for rebuilding damaged structures. Regarding relocation, they advocate for further discussion and study. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy cited the complexity of ensuring a community's future preparedness, securing funding, and implementing such a process as reasons requiring additional study. He stated that further research would commence after the storm recovery phase, with discussions on relocation expected to unfold through the winter and spring, potentially requiring significant time to reach a resolution.
A report from the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, co-authored by the state two years prior, identified 144 communities across Alaska facing various climate change threats, including flooding, erosion, and thawing permafrost. The report estimated the cost of addressing these risks at approximately $4.3 billion (in 2020 dollars) over the next five decades and outlined priorities and implementation strategies.
Precedent and Challenges of Community Relocation
The issue of community relocation due to climate change impacts is a global concern. In the U.S., previous cases involving the relocation of entire Indigenous communities have occurred:
- Isle de Jean Charles, Louisiana: The Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Tribe began an inland retreat a decade ago, with the island projected to be submerged by 2050.
- Newtok, Alaska: This Alaska Native village initiated a nine-mile relocation across the Ninglick River in the early 2000s due to unstable, waterlogged tundra.
These community-wide relocation efforts have presented challenges. The combined cost for the Isle de Jean Charles and Newtok relocations exceeded $198 million. The absence of a dedicated government agency for such relocations has complicated funding acquisition, leading to extended periods of uncertainty for affected communities. Despite improved safety, relocated residents have encountered other issues. In Louisiana, residents reported problems with new air conditioners and plumbing, while in Newtok, some new buildings have experienced deterioration attributed to design flaws, and water and sewer facilities have been inadequate, despite the relocation costing over $150 million for approximately 300 people.
Evacuated residents of Kwigillingok await decisions regarding their potential relocation to higher ground before future storm seasons.