Recovery from storms like Halong must go beyond short-term aid—we must invest in long-term, locally driven housing and resilience.
I’m thankful for the gracious and rapid engagement of the Municipality of Anchorage in arranging the initial temporary accommodations for the residents displaced by the Halong storm in the YK region. This evening, I also heard a positive report from School Board president Carl Jacobs sharing plans to ensure that the kids brought in to town will be supported with schooling and efforts to ensure their success while they are in Anchorage.
While concerned for the families’ initial care and support, I’m also looking ahead at the process of rebuilding the communities, informed by the long process of rebuilding the community of Newtok in Mertarvik. I’m also aware that the broad hazard exposure of high water and future storms is not limited to the recent communities destroyed by Halong or those affected by Merbok.
I’m concerned that we will not invest in the future of these communities and relegate each as it is severely damaged to being relocated or eliminated. At the same time, I’m aware of the lessons from Mertarvik, where the first phase of houses designed and built by Alaskans to local design requirements and building standards have been valued homes. In contrast, other later phases of work not following local high standards have quickly failed, as reported in the ADN. We have learned this lesson too many times, and we don’t need to learn them again recovering from Halong.
I view the investment in recovery as a multigenerational opportunity to finally invest in long-term housing and infrastructure building capacity in our remote rural communities to support building healthy homes and, when necessary, supporting moving and rebuilding. I’ve worked with innovative new companies with experience that want to be a part of building new industries and jobs so that we can not only rebuild these communties, but create a long term regional economy to support increasing the resilience of all of the coastal communities so that they are prepared to withstand future storms and sea level changes the next couple generations of Alaskans will face.
Further this capability for remote rural housing can also be meeting future needs for growth as well as projects and economic development that may come with the Port of Nome and Donlin projects that will also require housing for the projects and future residents.
I urge you to ensure that the goals, rebuilding plans, and funding are channeled into building up local capacity, capability, and competitiveness, and avoid the risks of handing the design and project authority over to others who are not familiar with Arctic requirements and the unique characteristics of these communities. If these future funds are not wisely invested in Alaskan solutions, they could easily result in more expensive problems to fix in the future or replace again.
These storms should not be the end of our remote village communities, but the beginning of a new era of opportunity and resilience, able to face the millennia ahead.
Ky
Rep. Ky Holland
Resources
ADN Opinion – Rick Steiner – Opinion: Western Alaska’s Halong disaster was predictable and preventable https://www.adn.com/opinions/2025/10/16/opinion-western-alaskas-halong-disaster-was-predictable-and-preventable/
DCCED Newtok Planning group – https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/dcra/ResiliencePlanningLandManagement/NewtokPlanningGroup/MertarvikHousing.aspx
ADN Opinion: Mertarvik is an overlooked Alaska success story of resilience and progress By Paul Charles https://www.adn.com/opinions/2025/06/29/opinion-mertarvik-is-an-overlooked-alaska-success-story-of-resilience-and-progress/
ADN: Forced to relocate by climate change, these Southwest Alaska villagers found a new crisis – https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/rural-alaska/2025/05/29/forced-to-relocate-by-climate-change-these-southwest-alaska-villagers-found-a-new-crisis/
Updates:
2/25/26 After remnants of a typhoon wrecked their home, some villagers are considering a possible move https://adn-ak.newsmemory.com/?publink=3e7c34b9b_1351fa5
2/5/26 Officials estimate $125 million in Western Alaska storm damage so far, and a long road to recovery https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/02/05/officials-estimate-125-million-in-western-alaska-storm-damage-so-far-and-a-long-road-to-recovery/
1/29 and 2/3 House Committee Regional Affairs joint hearings with Tribal Affairs on the western Alaska storms and responses. 2/3 meeting and docs. 1/29 meeting and doc.
11/30/25 ADN Typhoon aftermath showed Alaska at its best https://adn-ak.newsmemory.com/?publink=3cb9ea08e_134fc1e
11/27/25 ADN Western Alaska storm recovery crews suspend most work https://adn-ak.newsmemory.com/?publink=64a037cae_134fc1b
10/17/25 ADN Officials for years knew about flood risks in rural Alaska. Recent storm illustrates how little they have to show for it. https://adn-ak.newsmemory.com/?publink=1729cbc58_134fbad
10/29 News Source Halong recovery: Residents dispute damage assessments as officials explore long-term options (and propose a western Alaska response hub program. )