Residents of Alaska’s storm-battered Native towns consider moving to higher ground

Damage from Typhoon Halong underscored the vulnerability of villages in western Alaska to climate crisis

Darrel John watched the final evacuees depart his village on the western coast of Alaska in helicopters and small planes and walked home, avoiding the debris piled on the boardwalks over the swampy land.

He is one of seven residents who chose to remain in Kwigillingok after the remnants of Typhoon Halong devastated the village last month, uprooting homes and floating many of them miles away, some with residents inside. One person was killed and two remain missing.