PH honorary consul checking if Pinoys affected by Alaska floods

NEW YORK – The Philippine Honorary Consul in Anchorage, Alaska is currently determining whether Filipinos are among those affected by the massive flooding in western Alaska as a result of Typhoon Halong’s wrath.

Evelyn Abello, the Philippine Honorary Consul in Alaska, told GMA Integrated News that she is checking on the condition and whereabouts of Filipinos living in the affected villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok that were inundated by a powerful storm surge.

In an email, Abello said she already “requested information about the status of Filipino nationals that might have been affected by the devastating flooding in the villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok in western Alaska.”

Opened earlier this year, the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Anchorage is under the direct supervision of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, California.

Hundreds of Filipino teachers currently live and work in Alaska under J-1 and H-1 visa programs.

Typhoon Halong battered Alaska last weekend and caused storm surges as high as feet in the two villages that washed away entire homes. Rescue crews airlifted hundreds of residents from the typhoon-ravaged communities.

According to a statement released by the Alaska National Guard, a total of 51 people have been rescued by the combined forces of the US Coast Guard, the Alaska Army National Guard, and the Alaska Air National Guard.

Three of the rescued individuals were medically evacuated to Bethel, Alaska, to receive a higher level of medical care.

Authorities said several people remain missing and are now the focus of ongoing and joint search and recovery operations of the Alaska Air National Guard, Army National Guard, and US Coast Guard.

In a post on Facebook, the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said more than a thousand residents were affected by the severe flooding.

“One of our immediate priorities is safely relocating individuals sheltering at schools in Kwigillingok and Kipnuk to more suitable locations. With more than 1,400 people displaced throughout western Alaska, the American Red Cross is deploying additional personnel to support shelter operations in Bethel. Along with sheltering, we are focused on coordinating food, water, and emergency supplies to ensure that essential needs are met,” it said.

The Alaska State Troopers reported that the remains of a 67-year-old female victim were recovered, while two others remain unaccounted for in Kwigillingok. — JMA, GMA Integrated News