Helping Western Alaska Recover After the Floods

When the remnants of Typhoon Halong swept into Western Alaska, the damage hit fast and hard. Entire communities across the Y-K Delta were hit with record flooding and winds. Roads disappeared, homes were lifted off their foundations, and whole towns found themselves cut off from basic supplies. More than 50 communities reported impacts. Some, like Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, were hit so severely that residents had to be evacuated in what became the largest airlift in Alaska’s history.

Even now, weeks later, the work isn’t close to finished. Many families are still displaced, staying in hotels in Anchorage and other regional hubs. Some villages are trying to restore power and water one home at a time. Others are facing bigger questions about whether their communities can even remain where they’ve stood for generations.

What hasn’t changed is the way Alaskans show up for each other. Aid has been pouring in from tribal organizations, volunteers, nonprofits, and neighbors across the state. People are rebuilding boardwalks, replacing insulation, repairing heaters, and sharing food when freezers full of subsistence harvests were lost to floodwater. In some towns, schools have turned into the hub for response efforts — lights on, doors open, and people doing whatever they can to help each other through the winter.

How We’re Supporting Relief Efforts

When the scope of the flooding became clear, our Nuvision Alaska team moved quickly. We didn’t just send a few boxes — we built a coordinated effort focused on getting the right items into the right hands.

We partnered with Bethel Community Services Foundation and used the Association of Village Council Presidents’ Amazon Wish List to send essential supplies directly into the communities that requested them. That meant every item was based on real-time needs coming straight from tribal councils and relief coordinators across the Y-K Delta.

At the same time, we opened collection boxes in our Anchorage and Eagle River branches so members and employees could take part in helping our communities. Each branch shopped for additional high-need items using curated lists — supplies that families could use immediately as they worked to stabilize their homes and lives. Our teams stayed in regular contact, sharing updates as items came in and coordinating drop-offs so donations kept flowing where they were needed most.

All supplies were delivered to Team Rubicon USA, the disaster-relief organization working with state and tribal partners to move donated goods into evacuation centers and affected villages. Their crews are actively distributing items to families displaced in Anchorage and throughout Western Alaska, ensuring everything collected is put to work right away.

Beyond supply collections, we also stepped in with direct support.

We donated more than 100 pairs of brand-new winter boots — enough to fill our Nuvision van before delivering them to Team Rubicon. These boots are already being used by families who lost essential cold-weather gear in the flood.

Bean’s Café also put our $2,500 Hunger Action Month donation to work immediately, using it for their emergency prep efforts to support people displaced by the storm.

This wasn’t a one-time handoff. It was a full-team effort across branches, members, and partners to support neighbors facing a long, difficult recovery.

Staying Connected to the Work Ahead

Our branches continue to share updates, encourage involvement, and keep the effort moving forward. We’ve joined the statewide disaster-relief distribution list so our team can stay informed about volunteer needs and long-term recovery work in the months ahead.

A heartfelt thank you to all those who have joined us in relief efforts to help our communities.

What happened in Western Alaska is bigger than any one organization, but that’s exactly why community matters. When something this devastating hits, Alaskans rally. We’re grateful to everyone — members, partners, and volunteers — who has stepped up so far.

And we’ll keep showing up, because helping our neighbors rebuild is part of who we are.