TUCSON, Ariz. — The Southern AZ Chapter of the American Red Cross will be sending four volunteers to assist with the shelter operations in response to the tsunami caused by Typoon Halong.

The American Red Cross is deploying hundreds of disaster workers to Alaska where Typhoon Halong has left several coastal villages uninhabitable, forcing the evacuation of as many as 2,000 people to safe shelter in Anchorage, 500 miles from their homes.

• Homes have been flooded, pushed off their foundations and, in some cases, swept entirely out to sea. The typhoon's remnants also damaged critical infrastructure including roads, communication lines and air and seaport facilities.

As another storm bears down on the same communities, the Red Cross is working with state, tribal and local officials to support thousands of people in need.

• This could be a prolonged relief operation lasting months as villages have been left inaccessible or unlivable as winter sets in.
• Some areas are only accessible by air or sea, with evacuees being airlifted by helicopter to Bethel, where Red Cross disaster workers will greet them and register them for their next flight to Anchorage, where Red Cross volunteers and partners are preparing to shelter, feed and support those forced out of the villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, among others.
• Air evacuations are beginning today and are expected to continue for several days.

As winter approaches, there are other villages in the region where residents have no power or running water, food they had stored for the winter now ruined and stoves used to heat their homes damaged.

• That damage could make the winter difficult in remote communities where people store food from hunting and fishing to help make it through the season.
• The Red Cross will also support people in these villages in addition to the relief operation with evacuees in Anchorage.

Thousands of people in Alaska have lost everything and will be unable to return home and begin their recovery while winter keeps them out of their villages for the next several months.

• People are depending on the Red Cross for help, and we need your support. Help people affected by disasters big and small — whenever and wherever they occur across the country — by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief at redcross.org or by calling 1- 800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

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