Introduction to the Storm
The remnant storms of Typhoon Halong tore into western Alaska with such ferocity that they pulled Steven Anaver’s home from its foundation and buoyed it across choppy water — with him inside.
Videos he shared Monday with The Associated Press convey the desperate scene as the waters rose inside his home and the flooding raged outside.
The Aftermath of the Storm
The storms’ blistering winds and record-high water levels laid waste to several small communities Oct. 12, displacing more than 2,000 people and requiring one of the most significant airlift operations in Alaska history.
At least one person is dead, and two others are missing.
The Experience of Steven Anaver
The water started rising quickly Saturday night in Anaver’s village of Kwigillingok. It’s one of two Yup’ik communities that were hit hardest.
Anaver looked out through his window into pitch-black darkness. The power had long since been out.
The storm was the worst he’d seen. At around 3 a.m. on Sunday, the water level jumped, rising to his knees in about 10 minutes.
Shortly after, the home teetered, tilted and started floating.
Plastic bags, boxes of blankets, a leather boot and furniture cushions floated in videos Anaver took from inside. The walls swayed like a ship’s.
Outside, the dark waters lapped the house just a few feet from the window as the home drifted away. Anaver heard loud booms, and frigid wind rushed through a hole that opened in one wall.
“This was a big challenge for my anxiety,” he said. “I kept calling my family.”
More booms shook the home as the waves crashed it into other structures.
“Oh God,” he wrote in a Facebook post around 5:30 a.m.
Anaver tried to take pictures to orient where he was — the camera could see better than his eyes in the darkness — but it was futile until the moon came out later that morning.
He could see a house he recognized. He’d floated for roughly a mile.
A small hill with a board sticking out of it had stopped Anaver’s home just feet from the river, which had dragged other houses much farther away.
After 7 a.m., when the water had receded enough, two neighbors in waders came over and helped him out.
Three days later, Anaver posted a video on Facebook of the hours drifting in his own home.
“I was inches away from death," he wrote. “I escaped.”
Conclusion
The experience of Steven Anaver is a testament to the ferocity of the storms that hit western Alaska. The storms caused widespread destruction and displacement, and Anaver’s story is just one example of the many challenges that people faced. The fact that he was able to escape with his life is a miracle, and his story serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared for natural disasters.
FAQs
Q: What was the cause of the flooding in western Alaska?
A: The flooding was caused by the remnant storms of Typhoon Halong, which brought blistering winds and record-high water levels to the area.
Q: How many people were displaced by the storms?
A: More than 2,000 people were displaced by the storms.
Q: What was the outcome for Steven Anaver?
A: Steven Anaver was able to escape with his life after his home was pulled from its foundation and floated across choppy water.
Q: How far did Anaver’s home float?
A: Anaver’s home floated for roughly a mile before coming to rest on a small hill.
Q: What was the significance of the airlift operation in Alaska?
A: The airlift operation was one of the most significant in Alaska history, and was required to respond to the widespread destruction and displacement caused by the storms.
