Federal Disaster Aid Approved for Alaska Typhoon

President Trump approved major disaster declarations for Alaska, Nebraska, North Dakota and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe while denying requests from Vermont, Illinois and Maryland amid a pattern of partisan split decisions. For Alaska he authorized $25 million in federal aid after back-to-back storms, including remnants of Typhoon Halong, devastated western coastal Yup'ik villages, displaced roughly 2,000 people and prompted one of the state's largest evacuation airlifts. Hardest-hit communities such as Kipnuk (about 90% of homes destroyed) and Kwigillingok (about 35% destroyed) have many residents sheltering in Anchorage, at least one death has been confirmed, and municipal officials are tracking shelter costs and uncertain timelines for return. The storm has intensified scrutiny of federal climate and resilience policy after the EPA canceled a previously awarded $20 million grant intended to help Kipnuk defend against flooding and erosion; grantees are contesting the terminations in court. State and federal agencies, including the Alaska National Guard and U.S. Coast Guard, coordinated large-scale airlifts and relief efforts as communities and tribal leaders pressed for sustained federal investment to protect rural Alaska.