Alaska's Storms: A Village's Fight Against Nature

In the small village of Kwigillingok, Alaska, nature showed its power in a terrifying way. A man named Steven Anaver found himself in a nightmare when his home started floating away during a massive storm. The storm, leftovers from Typhoon Halong, hit western Alaska hard. It brought strong winds and high water levels. This caused big problems for several villages. More than 2, 000 people had to leave their homes. It was one of the biggest rescue operations in Alaska's history. Sadly, one person died, and two others are still missing. The storm hit on October 12, but the trouble started the night before in Kwigillingok. The water rose quickly, reaching Anaver's knees in just 10 minutes. Soon, his home started to float. Inside, it was chaos. Plastic bags, blankets, and furniture floated around. The walls moved like a ship in rough waters. Outside, the power was out, and dark water was everywhere. Anaver heard loud noises and felt cold wind rushing in. He was scared and called his family for help. His home drifted for about a mile before stopping near a river. Other houses were swept even farther away. After the water went down, neighbors helped Anaver out. He was lucky to survive. Two villages, Kwigillingok and Kipnuk, were hit the hardest. In both places, homes were torn from their foundations. The damage was severe. This event shows how powerful nature can be. It also shows the strength of communities coming together in tough times. The rescue efforts were huge, and people helped each other. The storm was a reminder of how important it is to be prepared and stay safe during extreme weather.