KWIGILLINGOK, Alaska (AP) — As helicopters and planes evacuated residents from the small Alaskan village of Kwigillingok, Darrel John chose to stay behind, surveying the wreckage caused by Typhoon Halong.
John, one of the seven remaining residents, experienced the typhoon's wrath first-hand, which uprooted homes and caused one death while leaving two others missing. The community's fate in the face of climate crisis remains uncertain.
“I just couldn’t leave my community,” John stated, reflecting on his role in assisting those in the emergency shelter located within the village school.
Following the storm, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy’s administration emphasized the necessity of repairing the villages and supporting the over 1,600 displaced individuals, which could take up to 18 months.
Short-term repairs have begun, but many residents are hesitant to return. Louise Paul from Kipnuk expressed that people are reluctant to face the threat of recurrent flooding, which has been exacerbated by climate change. “Every fall, we have a flood," she said.
The geographical landscape of Kwigillingok, near the Bering Sea delta, has also significantly changed due to warming-driven erosion and severe storms, prompting discussions about community relocation.
John emphasizes the importance of creating plans for potential relocation, stating, “We got to find a way to keep the community together until we can figure this out.”
The long-standing native practices of hunting and fishing for subsistence might change as residents adapt to new environments when displaced, which complicates their traditional ways of life.
For now, Kwigillingok faces a dire dilemma: rebuild or reevaluate their very existence in a changing world.
