U.S. Coast Guard Rescues Dozens From Flooding in Alaskan Villages
After devastating winds and seas from the last remnants of Typhoon Halong swept through the Bering Sea, the U.S. Coast Guard and state agencies are conducting a large-scale SAR operation in two remote villages near Bethel, Alaska.
The typhoon brought hurricane-force winds and gusts over 100 miles an hour to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, according to the state of Alaska's emergency management division. The small towns of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok were in the midst of it and sustained extensive damage from flooding, winds and flying debris. Both experienced storm surge of more than six feet above the high tide line. At least eight homes were pushed off their foundations by the force of the elements in Kipnuk, the Alaska State Troopers reported.
Coast Guard airmen out of Air Station Kodiak pulled 18 survivors to safety in the village of Kwigillingok and 16 more in Kipnuk. Between all federal, state and local responders, a total of 51 people and two dogs have been rescued from the area. All were retrieved and delivered in stable condition, but three residents from Kwigillingok remain missing. One aircrew conducted a broad search for the missing on Sunday and began again at first light on Monday morning; the effort continues, the Coast Guard said. The service is moving supplies, personnel and assets to Bethel in order to be able to mount an extended search.
“Preservation of life is our top priority,” said Capt. Christopher Culpepper, commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic. “The Coast Guard remains closely connected to the State Emergency Operations Center in full support of combined rescue and response operations alongside State Troopers, National Guard, and various additional agencies.”
In addition to aircrews out of Kodiak, the cutter Kimball is in the area and assisting in the search using its unmanned aerial vehicle. Kimball's crew is also helping out with logistics.
Kipnuk is built on permafrost and has been subsiding as the terrain melts underneath, an issue that affects many northern Alaskan communities. The village was already vulnerable to river flooding and residents were faced with the possibility of having to relocate the town. To help stave off flooding, Kipnuk was awarded $20 million in EPA Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant funds last year to build a protective rock barrier next to the river. The grant was suspended this year amidst federal cutbacks on climate and DEI programs, according to Floodlight.
Despite Shutdown, U.S. Coast Guard Will Still Receive Next Paycheck
The U.S. Coast Guard's active-duty servicemembers will receive their pay on time and as scheduled on October 15, the service confirmed Monday, despite the government shutdown. Unlike circumstances during the last shutdown, when servicemembers had to wait for Congress to pass an appropriations bill in order to receive back pay, the White House has redirected R&D funding to cover military salaries.
"Our people are the heart of the Coast Guard," said Acting Commandant Admiral Kevin Lunday. "We are grateful for the actions taken by President Trump and Secretary Noem to ensure that our members — who protect and defend our nation’s maritime borders and our citizens every day — receive the pay they have earned."
Active duty military servicemembers have to remain at their posts during a shutdown, along with essential civilian federal employees. The Coast Guard's civilian workforce is not expected to receive pay at this time, but the service's leadership said that it continues to advocate for full funding.
The financing for the military pay comes from $8 billion in unobligated funds for military R&D, testing and evaluation, according to Politico. This temporary shuffle may be on uncertain legal ground: the Antideficiency Act bans federal officials from spending funds that have not been appropriated by Congress. The criminal penalties are relatively light, capped at two years in prison or a small fine, and were not enforced during the 2019 shutdown.
While military pay will go out on time on October 15, funds for the October 31 pay period will still have to be appropriated by Congress, or the administration will have to find another way to reallocate additional funding in order to meet payroll obligations.
Across the country, servicemembers have been leaning hard on food pantries and charities in expectation of a missed paycheck, military-service nonprofits report. The shutdown does not relieve active-duty personnel of their financial obligations, like rent and utilities, even though they are legally required to continue to work without pay.
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