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Native America Calling: Alaska Native residents assess their future after record-breaking storm damage
Monday, October 20, 2025
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Alaska Native residents assess their future after record-breaking storm damage
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) predicts many of the more than 2,000 people uprooted by historically damaging storms may not be able to return to their villages for more than a year and a half.

In at least one village, officials say 90 percent of the residences are destroyed -= and, as their lives are suddenly and drastically changed, the mostly Alaska Native inhabitants of the hardest-hit areas face the possibility of increasingly severe weather as the climate changes.

Tune into Native America Calling to get updates on the current efforts to provide relief and assess the long-term options for the people who have always lived there.

Also, hear about how a new influx of $15 million in federal money over the next five years will help the StrongHearts Native Helpline, which provides culturally specific outreach for Native domestic violence survivors. The money comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back and eliminating staff for many other social programs.

Alaska Army National Guard aviators recover displaced Alaskans from Bethel
Alaska Army National Guard Sgt. Hunter Lorenz, a CH-47 Chinook helicopter crew chief, assigned to Detachment 1, B Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, carries a dog during recovery operations at Bethel, Alaska, on October 16, 2025. Alaska Army National Guard helicopter aircrews, with the 207th Aviation Troop Command, pulled residents from hard-hit Alaskan communities and transported them to Bethel for follow-on travel to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson via AKANG C-17. Following the devastating Typhoon Halong that struck the West Coast of Alaska late last week, the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management continues to work with the Alaska Organized Militia and the U.S. Coast Guard during ongoing recovery operations. Alaska National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Moon

Alaska Army National Guard aviators recover displaced Alaskans from Kwigillingok
Alaska Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook aviators assigned to Detachment 1, B Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, evacuate displaced Alaskans from Kwigillingok, Alaska, during recovery operations on October 16, 2025. Alaska Army National Guard helicopter aircrews, with the 207th Aviation Troop Command, pulled residents from hard-hit Alaskan communities and transported them to Bethel for follow-on travel to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson via AKANG C-17. Following the devastating Typhoon Halong that struck the West Coast of Alaska late last week, the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management continues to work with the Alaska Organized Militia and the U.S. Coast Guard during ongoing recovery operations. Alaska National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Moon

Alaska Army National Guard aviators recover displaced Alaskans from Kwigillingok
Alaska Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook aviators assigned to Detachment 1, B Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, evacuate displaced Alaskans from Kwigillingok, Alaska, during recovery operations on October 16, 2025. Alaska Army National Guard helicopter aircrews, with the 207th Aviation Troop Command, pulled residents from hard-hit Alaskan communities and transported them to Bethel for follow-on travel to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson via AKANG C-17. Following the devastating Typhoon Halong that struck the West Coast of Alaska late last week, the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management continues to work with the Alaska Organized Militia and the U.S. Coast Guard during ongoing recovery operations. Alaska National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Moon

Alaska Army National Guard aviators recover displaced Alaskans from Kwigillingok
Alaska Army National Guard Sgt. Mary Miller, a CH-47 Chinook helicopter crew chief, assigned to Detachment 1, B Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, passes a bottle of water to a child while evacuating displaced Alaskans from Kwigillingok, Alaska, during recovery operations on October 16, 2025. Alaska Army National Guard helicopter aircrews, with the 207th Aviation Troop Command, pulled residents from hard-hit Alaskan communities and transported them to Bethel for follow-on travel to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson via AKANG C-17. Following the devastating Typhoon Halong that struck the West Coast of Alaska late last week, the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management continues to work with the Alaska Organized Militia and the U.S. Coast Guard during ongoing recovery operations. Alaska National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Moon

Alaska Army National Guard aviators recover displaced Alaskans from Kwigillingok
Alaska Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook aviators assigned to Detachment 1, B Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, evacuate displaced Alaskans from Kwigillingok, Alaska, during recovery operations on October 16, 2025. Alaska Army National Guard helicopter aircrews, with the 207th Aviation Troop Command, pulled residents from hard-hit Alaskan communities and transported them to Bethel for follow-on travel to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson via AKANG C-17. Following the devastating Typhoon Halong that struck the West Coast of Alaska late last week, the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management continues to work with the Alaska Organized Militia and the U.S. Coast Guard during ongoing recovery operations. Alaska National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Moon

Guests on Native America Calling
Walter Nelson (Yup’ik), managed retreat coordinator for the Village of Napakiak, a federally-recognized tribe in Alaska

Lori Jump (Sault Ste. Marie Band of Chippewa Indians), CEO of StrongHearts Native Helpline

Taylar Sausen, director of communications for the American Red Cross of Alaska

Rick Thoman, Alaska climate specialist with the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy at the University of Alaska Fairbanks

Eric Stone, state government reporter for Alaska Public Media

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