A storm swept across the East Coast of the United States on Sunday, October 12, washing away roads and causing delays in air travel. The densely populated Northeast region experienced heavy rain, strong winds, and coastal flooding, leading to some areas in New Jersey and New York declaring a state of emergency. Meanwhile, on the other end of the North American continent in western Alaska, Typhoon “Halong” brought powerful winds and catastrophic flooding, even washing away entire homes.
New Jersey entered a state of emergency from Saturday night and is expected to remain in effect until Monday, authorizing the activation of state emergency personnel when necessary.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Sunday night that the southern part of the state, including 8 counties, was also placed under a state of emergency due to the intensifying storm. She urged the public to closely monitor weather forecasts and avoid travel.
It is predicted that parts of New York will experience moderate to severe coastal flooding, inland flash flooding, strong winds with speeds up to 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour), and up to 5 inches (approximately 13 centimeters) of rainfall along with large beach waves. Some volunteers have already placed sandbags on the beaches.
The National Weather Service issued coastal flood warnings and high wind warnings for New York City, Long Island, and southern Westchester County, which are expected to last at least until Monday afternoon. Coastal areas on Long Island suburbs may experience flooding, with up to 3 inches (about 8 centimeters) of rainfall and accompanying strong winds.
Local utility companies have dispatched over 1,600 workers to deal with the storm.
In Alaska, authorities have sent rescue boats and planes to villages such as Kipnuk and Kwigillingok. According to Jeremy Zidek, a spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, up to 20 people may be missing.
Zidek told the Associated Press, “We have reports of houses being swept away by water, possibly with people inside at the time.”
Over 170 individuals sought refuge overnight in a community shelter in Kipnuk as water levels rose overnight to 6.6 feet (2 meters) above the highest tide level, washing away at least 8 homes.
Roads and boardwalks in areas like Bethel were submerged, with power lines damaged. This region is one of the most remote areas in the U.S., with some communities nearly inaccessible by roads, relying on boardwalks, boats, and snowmobiles for transportation.
Governor Mike Dunleavy stated in a release, “We will do everything possible to assist those affected by this storm. Aid is on the way.”
From South Carolina and North Carolina northwards to the New England region, heavy rain poured down.
In North Carolina, a stretch of road near Buxton was submerged by seawater.
In South Carolina, flooding in Georgetown County was extensive, with several drivers needing rescue as their vehicles became submerged, while multiple streets in downtown Charleston were closed due to flooding.
In Delaware, officials from the Emergency Management Department activated the state National Guard to address rising floods and strong winds, issuing voluntary evacuation orders for certain areas.
From Washington DC to Boston, Massachusetts, many airports announced partial flight delays and cancellations.
The storm is expected to exit the East Coast of the United States on Monday night.