Community groups and businesses across the state are coordinating relief efforts after the remnants of Typhoon Halong brought widespread devastation to Western Alaska.
The storm has killed one person, left two missing, displaced hundreds and destroyed or damaged dozens of homes, especially in the hardest-hit communities of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok.
Here's how you can help.
Financial support: The Western Alaska Disaster Relief Fund
The Alaska Community Foundation, an Anchorage-based nonprofit, has partnered with organizations serving people throughout the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region, Norton Sound and the Northwest Arctic to funnel financial donations to people affected by the storm.
The organization is accepting donations at its website.
“The thing that's unique about this fund is that we have partnered with local and regional organizations to make sure that the money goes to the areas that it's needed most,” the Alaska Community Foundation’s Ashley Ellingson said in an interview. “Since we are not on the ground, we rely on those partnerships to make sure that the gifts and donations are the most impactful.”
The Alaska Community Foundation is partnering with the Alaska Federation of Natives, the Association of Village Council Presidents, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation, Kawerak, Inc. Maniilaq Association and a number of other local, regional and statewide groups.
The foundation embarked on a similar effort in the wake of 2022’s Typhoon Merbok. As of Oct. 24, the fund had raised more than $4 million in contributions and commitments from over 17,500 unique donors, Ellingson said.
Cash donations are a better option than goods, since storing and transporting items can present challenges of their own, said Jenni Ragland, chair of Alaska Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.
“While it may seem impersonal, cash really is the best opportunity to help meet those immediate needs that are coming our way,” she said at a news conference Tuesday. “It provides flexibility for us to purchase exactly what's needed, to procure those items quickly and to get them into the hands of disaster survivors.”
Other financial donations:
- The Red Cross is helping with disaster relief in Western Alaska and managing evacuee shelters in Anchorage. You can donate directly to Western Alaska disaster relief on its website.
- Bethel Friends of Canines is accepting donations to help charter planes to evacuate dogs from storm-impacted villages and to assist with supplies and care for the displaced pets. You can donate directly to the rescue through its website.
Volunteer opportunities in Western Alaska:
- The Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP) may need volunteers early the week of Oct. 26 to help with sorting and palleting donations to send out to impacted communities. Stay tuned to AVCP’s Facebook page for updates about opportunities.
- Bethel Friends of Canines is not in need of volunteers at this time. If you are interested in fostering a dog, you can contact the rescue through their Facebook page.
Volunteer opportunities in Anchorage:
- The city of Anchorage is sending out regular emails with volunteer opportunities and other ways to help. Fill out this form to receive the emails. For specific volunteer questions, email clare.ross@anchorageak.gov.
- Sign up with the Alaska Native Heritage Center to volunteer to serve meals in Anchorage’s two mass shelters. Sign up for the Egan Center here and the Alaska Airlines Center here. For specific volunteer questions, email bbaldwin@alaskanative.net.
- Sign up to foster pets relocated from Western Alaska through Best Friends Animal Rescue, The August Fund, or Anchorage Animal Care and Control.
- Medical and behavioral health professionals can sign up for future volunteer opportunities by emailing dhsseoc@alaska.gov.
- The state is collecting names of volunteers who are able to go out to villages to help with repairs next spring. Email storm2025@ready.alaska.gov.
Housing:
- If you have places for people to stay, such as micro-units, apartments or hotels and would like to help house evacuees, email EOCServiceBranchDir@anchorageak.gov.
Donations in Western Alaska:
- The Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP) is promoting an Amazon wish list with current supply needs, including bedding, diapers and children’s toys, that will ship directly to Bethel Community Services Foundation in Bethel.
- As of Oct. 18, AVCP needed mattresses and air mattresses, beds-in-a-bag, pillows, laundry detergent, fabric softener, dish soap, tissues and paper towels. Donations can be dropped off at Bethel Search and Rescue headquarters.
Donations in Anchorage:
- Alaska Native Heritage Center is seeking donations of traditional Alaska Native foods, as well as bulk frozen food donations, to use for community gatherings and will distribute food to families who are hosting displaced individuals. All donations should be frozen and harvested within the past year. Sign up to donate or call 907-205-0068. Email nativefoods@alaskanative.net to receive food.
- The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium is accepting all traditional food in good condition to feed evacuees staying in shelters in Anchorage. Drop off donations Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at ANTHC Lodging, located at 4001 Tudor Centre Drive, or, to arrange for an off-hours donation, email NativeFood4Life@anthc.org.
- Donate perishable and nonperishable foods to the Alaska Food Bank at 2192 Viking Dr., open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is a drop box to donate non-perishable foods outside of business hours. The food bank only accepts subsistence foods that have been commercially processed.
- Team Rubicon is accepting new items at the old Chugach Electric warehouse at 1120 E 1st Ave, seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find an updated list of needed items on Team Rubicon’s Facebook page.
- Anchorage Animal Care and Control needs dog food, gallon jugs of water, blankets and towels for pets evacuated from Western Alaska. Drop off donations in the parking lot at 4711 Elmore Rd, or purchase items from their amazon wishlist.
- Alaska Rural Veterinary Outreach is collecting dog food for evacuated dogs at Southside Animal Hospital at 12000 Industry Way.
- Alaska Bead Company is doing a bead and craft supply drive, with goods to go to evacuees in Anchorage and people in Western Alaska. Drop supplies off at the store, at 2217 East Tudor Rd., during business hours through Nov. 1.
- Tandy Leather is collecting leather and other craft goods. Items can be dropped off at the store, 2217 East Tudor Rd., during business hours.
- GCI is accepting donations through Oct. 27 at its C Street, Dimond Center, Muldoon Road and Abbott Road retail locations in Anchorage, as well as in Wasilla and Fairbanks. Find a list of accepted supplies here.
Other donations:
- The Fairbanks nonprofit Straw for Dogs is fundraising to provide doghouses and straw for families in the region.
Editor’s note: If you are organizing a resource that we missed, please email news@alaskapublic.org.
