ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The aftermath of severe flooding in remote Alaska villages has left extensive damage, displacing over 2,000 residents who may not be able to return home for at least 18 months, according to Governor Mike Dunleavy. In his appeal to the White House for a major disaster declaration, Dunleavy outlined the dire situation.

In Kipnuk, one of the most devastated areas, initial assessments revealed that 121 homes, representing 90% of the village’s residences, have been destroyed. Meanwhile, in Kwigillingok, around one-third of the homes are considered uninhabitable as three dozen houses were swept away by the floodwaters.

The destruction was caused by the remnants of Typhoon Halong, which struck the region with the force of a Category 2 hurricane. This unleashed a powerful surge of high surf across the low-lying areas. Tragically, one person lost their life, two individuals are still missing, and rescue teams have had to save dozens of residents as their homes were carried away by the floodwaters.

Authorities are urgently working to evacuate residents from the affected Alaska Native villages. Over 2,000 people have sought refuge, taking shelter in village schools, relocating to larger communities in southwest Alaska, or being airlifted to Anchorage, the state’s largest city, by military aircraft.

On Friday, Anchorage officials anticipated welcoming up to 1,600 evacuees. So far, approximately 575 individuals have been transported to the city by the Alaska National Guard, finding temporary accommodation in facilities such as a sports arena or a convention center. Additional flights were scheduled to continue the evacuation efforts over the weekend.

Officials are working on figuring out how to move people out of shelters and into short-term accommodations, such as hotels, and then longer-term housing.

“Due to the time, space, distance, geography, and weather in the affected areas, it is likely that many survivors will be unable to return to their communities this winter,” Dunleavy said. “Agencies are prioritizing rapid repairs … but it is likely that some damaged communities will not be viable to support winter occupancy, in America’s harshest climate in the U.S. Arctic.”

The federal government already has been assisting with search and rescue, damage assessments, environmental response and evacuation support. A major disaster declaration by President Donald Trump could provide federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, including money for emergency and permanent work.

The three members of Alaska’s congressional delegation on Friday sent a letter to Trump, urging swift approval.

The storm surge pummeled a sparsely populated region off the state’s main road system where communities are reachable only by air or water this time of year. The villages typically have just a few hundred residents, who hunt and fish for much of their food, and relocating to the state’s major cities will bring a vastly different lifestyle.

Alexie Stone, of Kipnuk, arrived in Anchorage in a military jet with his brothers, children and mom, after his home was struck by the flooding. They’ve been staying at the Alaska Airlines Center at the University of Alaska, where the Red Cross provided evacuees with cots, blankets and hygiene supplies.

At least for the foreseeable future, he thinks he might try to find a job at a grocery store; he used to work in one in Bethel.

“It’s going to be, try to look for a place and find a job,” Stone said Friday. “We’re starting a new life here in Anchorage.”

Anchorage officials and business leaders said Friday they were eager to help the evacuees.

“Our neighbors in western Alaska have experienced tremendous loss, devastation and grief,” Mayor Suzanne LaFrance said at a meeting of the Anchorage Assembly. “We will do everything we can here in Anchorage to welcome our neighbors and help them through these difficult times.”

State Rep. Nellie Unangiq Jimmie, of Toksook Bay, on an island northwest of Kipnuk, described for the assembly how she rode out the storm’s 100 mph (161 kmh) winds with her daughter and niece.

“We had no choice but to sit in our home and wait to see if our house is going to come off the foundation or if debris is going to bust open our windows,” she said.

It didn’t, but others weren’t as fortunate. She thanked Anchorage for welcoming the evacuees.

“You are showing my people, my relatives, my constituents, even if they are far from home, this is still Alaska land and they’re amongst families,” Jimmie said.

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Johnson reported from Seattle.