Photos and video show Alaska homes blasted from their foundations as a major storm surge produces coastal flooding

On Saturday, unprecedented storms struck the western shore of Alaska, unleashing catastrophic flooding that tore numerous homes from their foundations.

At a press conference on Saturday, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy called the problem a disaster emergency and verified that there had been no recorded injuries.

“Just now, I proclaimed a state of emergency for the communities devastated by the hurricane on the West Coast. At this moment, SEOC (State Emergency Operations Center) has not received any reports of injuries. We will continue to monitor the storm and provide as many updates as possible to Alaskans “Governor Republican stated.

On Saturday, September 17, 2022, a house may be seen adrift in the Snake River near Nome, Alaska.

Peggy Fagerstrom/Agence France-Presse

Hooper Bay, Nome, Unalakleet, Shaktoolik, Kotlik, and Nunam Iqua have been affected by Typhoon Merbok, according to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. Additionally, the department claimed that the Old Golovin Airport is flooded.

According to the weather service, the flooding is believed to have peaked in certain regions on Saturday afternoon and will begin to subside on Sunday.

—Melissa Frey (@MelissaDFrey)

September 17, 2022

When the hurricane began ravaging on Saturday morning, hundreds of people on the shore had already evacuated to safer grounds, including schools.

The Alaska Public Media News (@AKpublicnews) Twitter account.

September 17, 2022

The New York Times reports that several homes, including three in Golovin, are floating in the floodwaters.

—Bill Karins (@BillKarins)

September 17, 2022

According to the New York Times, forecasters estimate the storm to be one of the “most intense systems to sweep through the Bering Sea region in decades,” as gusts approaching hurricane strength raged throughout the region.

The Times quoted Brian Brettschneider, an Anchorage-based scientist, as saying, “There is a strong case that climate change tipped the scales in favor of this storm.”

—Melissa Frey (@MelissaDFrey)

September 17, 2022