These Alaska villages were swept away by a typhoon. They’re fighting with FEMA to not rebuild in the flood zone

Alaska Villages Struggle Against FEMA’s Push to Rebuild in Flood Zones

These Alaska villages were swept away – October 2023 brought devastation to two remote villages along Alaska’s western coastline, as the remnants of Typhoon Halong unleashed torrential rains that transformed the Bering Sea’s shores into a battleground for survival. Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, indigenous communities nestled in the permafrost-rich terrain, faced unprecedented destruction when floodwaters surged through their settlements, dragging homes, schools, and critical infrastructure into the river. The storm’s aftermath left one resident dead, two others missing, and a haunting reminder of the region’s vulnerability: long-buried caskets were unearthed from gravesites, their contents mingling with the flood’s acrid mix of sewage and fuel oil. For the over 1,000 displaced people, the challenge now is not just rebuilding but deciding where to do so in a state that is warming faster than any other in the U.S.

The Devastation of Typhoon Halong

Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, located along the Bering Sea, have long been accustomed to harsh weather, but the force of Halong’s floods was unlike anything seen before. The water, driven by relentless rain, eroded the permafrost foundations of the villages, causing homes and structures to collapse into the river. In some cases, entire families were swept away, their lives upended in moments. The contamination of floodwaters with oil and debris turned the scene into a toxic landscape, with the scent of fuel oil lingering in the air and on residents’ clothes for weeks. For these subsistence-based communities, which rely on fishing and hunting for sustenance, the destruction was not only physical but also deeply symbolic, severing ties to the land that has sustained them for generations.

Alaska’s western coast has become a hotspot for climate-related disasters, with three federal declarations of emergencies issued in just three years. This pattern underscores a growing concern: as global temperatures rise, traditional settlement areas are becoming increasingly unstable. The permafrost, which has long acted as a natural foundation for the villages, is thawing at an accelerated rate, leaving the ground susceptible to erosion. In Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, this process was exacerbated by the typhoon’s floodwaters, which not only washed away homes but also exposed the fragile infrastructure that had been built atop the thawing earth.

FEMA’s Role in the Recovery Efforts

Despite the urgency for relocation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has remained steadfast in its push to rebuild the villages in their original locations. Tribal leaders, including Kipnuk’s administrator Rayna Paul, argue that this approach is unsustainable. “Our people know that’s no longer safe,” Paul said, expressing frustration over FEMA’s insistence on in-place rebuilding. The agency’s stance has sparked a heated debate, with critics claiming that the current framework forces communities into a cycle of repeated destruction and costly repairs.

FEMA’s position is rooted in legal constraints. In documents and correspondence with the tribes, the agency cited the Stafford Act, which prohibits the use of public assistance funds for relocation projects. Instead, it advocates for elevating structures and adding temporary adaptations, such as skis, to allow homes to be moved during winter when the ground is frozen. This idea, though practical, has raised questions about its long-term viability. “Spending federal dollars to rebuild a community in the same place they were wiped out sounds crazy,” said Sheryl Musgrove, director of the Alaska Climate Justice Program. “But maybe that is the limitation of the statute,” she added, highlighting the need for legislative reforms to address the evolving challenges of climate change.

Bipartisan Efforts and Policy Shifts

Under the Biden administration, two key laws were enacted to provide communities with greater flexibility in disaster recovery. These measures aimed to shift the paradigm from repeated rebuilding to investing in resilience, allocating billions to support infrastructure upgrades, elevate flood-prone homes, and purchase land in high-risk zones. The goal was clear: to reduce future recovery costs by prioritizing long-term safety over short-term fixes. For every dollar spent on resilience, the federal government could save up to $6 in future disaster response expenses, according to Criswell, who emphasized the economic benefits of proactive planning.

However, these progressive policies were undone by the Trump administration, which froze key funding programs and rescinded two of the Biden-era grants intended for Kipnuk and Kwigillingok. This decision left the villages without the resources to relocate permanently, forcing them into a precarious situation. While the state government recently petitioned FEMA for permanent housing solutions, the approval process is ongoing, and relocation remains uncertain. “We’re in a holding pattern,” said a state official, describing the community’s struggle to secure long-term stability.

A Larger Crisis of Climate Resilience

The battle over Kipnuk and Kwigillingok reflects a broader dilemma facing disaster-prone regions across the U.S. For decades, communities have been forced to rebuild in the same locations after repeated floods, wildfires, and storms, often without adequate support. This cycle has placed a financial strain on both states and federal agencies, as each disaster demands new resources without addressing the root causes of vulnerability. Critics argue that the current system prioritizes immediate recovery over sustainable solutions, leaving residents to bear the brunt of climate-related risks.

Alaska’s position as the fastest-warming state in the country has made it a prime example of this challenge. The melting permafrost, combined with rising sea levels, has created a precarious environment where traditional settlements are increasingly threatened. Yet, the state’s government continues to advocate for relocating the villages, citing the need to protect its population from further devastation. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who chairs the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, has called on the federal government to grant “flexibilities” for displaced tribes, allowing them to rebuild in safer locations. “These communities look to rebuild in safer locations,” said Hannah Ray, the committee’s communications director, “and we need to ensure they have the tools to do so.”

While Murkowski’s efforts signal a potential shift in policy, the absence of a clear federal directive has left the tribes in limbo. Without the ability to relocate, they risk being trapped in a cycle of destruction and reconstruction, unable to escape the growing threat of climate change. The situation in Kipnuk and Kwigillingok is emblematic of a larger struggle: as the planet warms, the question of where to live becomes a matter of survival. For these residents, the answer is not just about finding new ground but about reclaiming control over their future in a landscape that is rapidly changing.

As the debate continues, the fate of the villages hangs in the balance. While FEMA insists on its legal obligations to fund in-place rebuilding, the tribes remain resolute in their desire to move to higher ground. The outcome of this dispute will determine whether Alaska’s coastal communities can finally break free from the cycle of destruction or if they will be forced to endure the same fate again in the coming years. For now, the displaced residents of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok are fighting to ensure their homes are not just rebuilt but reimagined in the face of an increasingly unpredictable climate.

“People don’t want to go back to the current village that the state and FEMA are pushing us to rebuild, rebuild, rebuild in place,” said Rayna Paul. “Our people know that’s no longer safe.”

The struggle in these villages serves as a microcosm of the broader climate crisis, highlighting the need for adaptive policies that prioritize long-term resilience. As the federal government weighs its options, the residents of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok remain hopeful that their voices will be heard in the fight to secure a safer future for their communities. Until then, they are left to navigate a landscape where the past and present collide, and the threat of the next storm looms ever closer.