In response to the severe October 2025 storms — including ex-Typhoon Halong — that devastated Alaska’s western coast, local organizations and regional partners have joined together to create the Western Alaska Disaster Relief Fund, housed at the Alaska Community Foundation (ACF).

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Donors from Alaska, the Lower 48, and around the world have contributed to help Western Alaska families recover. Gifts have ranged from online donations and mailed envelopes to foundation grants, stock transfers, and retirement distributions.

Every contribution moves through the fund with the same goal: ensuring generosity reaches Western Alaska families with speed, dignity, and care.

The advisory group — comprised of Tribal, regional, and statewide partners — meets regularly to coordinate with local leaders, assess remaining needs, and guide the next rounds of grantmaking.

Through this collaborative effort, the Western Alaska Disaster Relief Fund is providing support to affected communities for immediate relief, recovery support, and long-term resilience, including disaster preparedness initiatives.

The Alaska Community Foundation is honored to serve as the home for the Western Alaska Disaster Relief Fund, providing administrative support and ensuring transparent, community-driven distribution of resources across the regions hardest hit by the October storm systems, including ex-Typhoon Halong.

Since launching in October, more than $3.3 million has been deployed to Tribal councils, city governments, regional nonprofits, and community-led efforts working on the front lines of response and recovery.

Locally Led. Community Directed. Making a Difference Now.

Working closely with leaders in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Bering Strait, and Northwest Arctic regions, the fund is supporting community-identified priorities such as:

• Direct relief for families and households in Kipnuk, Kwigillingok, Chefornak, Napakiak, Napaskiak, Nightmute, Quinhagak, Bethel, and Tuntutuliak, including home repairs, temporary housing, essential supplies, and emergency financial assistance.
• Replacement of subsistence foods lost in the storm, distributed in partnership with the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Bethel Food Bank, and SeaShare.
• ATVs, snowmachines, and critical winter gear to support cleanup, debris removal, and travel where essential equipment was destroyed.
• Support for more than 140 displaced students through the Lower Kuskokwim School District’s reimbursement program for school clothing, shoes, backpacks, and winter gear.
• Culturally grounded care for evacuees, led by organizations including the Alaska Native Heritage Center.
• Youth mental health and suicide-prevention support, including programs led by Teens Acting Against Violence under the Tundra Women’s Coalition.
• Local journalism and essential information access, including funding for KYUK’s on-the-ground reporting.

In addition, ACF has purchased laptops for the Kipnuk Traditional Council and is partnering with Coastal Villages Region Fund to purchase and transport ATVs for cleanup and recovery, totaling roughly $200,000 in direct expenses.

The advisory committee, composed of regional and statewide leaders, meets regularly to evaluate requests and guide the strategic deployment of resources. With the Yukon-Kuskokwim region now declared a federal disaster area, the committee is coordinating closely with local and federal partners to maximize impact and prevent duplication of aid.

Responding to Urgent Needs and Supporting Long-Term Recovery

To date, deployed funding includes:

• $2.9 million in direct relief grants
• $225,000+ in emergency equipment purchases
• $130,000 in subsistence food relief
• $50,000 in school supply reimbursements
• $30,000 for youth mental health and violence-prevention programs
• Ongoing support for local reporting and communications