A northeasterly wind swept across the East Coast on Sunday, destroying roads and causing air travel delays, while densely populated areas of the Northeast experienced excessive rain, strong winds and coastal flooding. Across the continent, west to Alaska, the remnants of Typhoon Halong brought hurricane-force winds and catastrophic flooding to coastal communities, pushing entire homes off their foundations.
Rescue planes were sent to the tiny Alaskan villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, where up to 20 people may be missing, said Jeremy Zidek, a spokesman for the state’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
“We received reports that people’s houses were blown away and people were potentially in those houses,” Zidek told the Associated Press.
Alaska governor says ‘help is on the way’
At least eight houses were swept away in Kipnuk and at least four houses in nearby Kwigillingok, Zidek said.
He said Sunday evening that search efforts were continuing and they were still trying to determine exactly how many people had not been found.
The region is one of the most isolated in the United States, where some communities have few roads and residents use boardwalks, boats and snowmobiles to get around, Zidek said.
Roads and sidewalks were flooded and power lines were damaged in Bethel, Napaskiak, Napakiak and other Yukon-Kuskokwim communities. Crews worked to clear the Bethel Airport runway, which was littered with debris from the high winds.
According to the Coastal Villages Region Fund, a nonprofit organization, nearly 600 people in Kipnuk took shelter in a local school, while about 300 people in Kwigillingok took shelter in a school.
“Every effort will be made to help those impacted by this storm. Help is on the way,” Gov. Mike Dunleavy said in a statement.
National Guard activated in Delaware
Heavy rains fell from the Carolinas as far north as New England.
“The biggest effects will be the potential for coastal flooding,” said meteorologist Bob Oravec of the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland.
In Delaware, emergency management officials activated the state National Guard in response to rising floodwaters and high winds. A voluntary evacuation order has been issued for the town of Bowers Beach, where the Murderkill River flows into Delaware Bay.
In North Carolina’s Outer Banks, an area that has suffered significant storm damage this season, ocean overflow spread across Highway 12 at a motel near Buxton, the Dare County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday. The bureau urged travelers to be careful and put homeowners on alert as high tide approached.
Waves were fierce in the town of Buxton on Hatteras Island, where several beachfront homes fell into the water in recent weeks. A house lost its stilts on Sunday and appeared on the verge of collapse.
“The waves are crashing really hard on the houses and the dunes, and everything is eroding,” said Robert Splawn, who was watching on the beach.
South Carolina Water Rescue
Flooding was widespread along the coast in Georgetown County, South Carolina, where several motorists had to be rescued when rising waters inundated their cars, Emergency Services Director Brandon Ellis told the Post and Courier on Sunday.
The weather service said parts of the county received up to 7 inches of rain.
Further south in Charleston, South Carolina, many downtown streets were closed due to flooding. Homeowner David Graubner spent the weekend pumping out his property, hoping to avoid a repeat of what happened Friday, when high tide brought nearly a foot of water into his garage, where his new Corvette was parked.
“And I have all my toys in the garage, my tools and everything. So anything that helps. Even lowering the water a few inches makes a difference,” Graubner told WCIV-TV.
There were several road closures in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as heavy rains overwhelmed that city’s stormwater system.
“Please be safe and stay home if possible,” Myrtle Beach officials posted on Facebook.
Emergency declaration for New York and New Jersey
Since Saturday evening, all of New Jersey has been under a state of emergency. It is expected to last until Monday, allowing state emergency services personnel to be activated if necessary.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued an emergency declaration for eight southern counties in her state as the storm gained strength Sunday evening. She urged people to monitor the forecast and avoid traveling.
Parts of the state are expected to experience moderate to major coastal flooding, inland flash flooding, winds up to 60 mph (97 km/h), up to 5 inches (about 13 centimeters) of rain and high surf, potentially causing beach erosion. Some volunteers placed sandbags on the beaches.
The National Weather Service placed New York City, Long Island and southern Westchester County under a coastal flood warning and wind advisory through at least Monday afternoon. Coastal areas of suburban Long Island could experience flooding, with up to 3 inches (about 8 centimeters) of rain and strong winds, the weather service said.
Wind gusts of more than 30 mph (48 km/h) were already recorded in the region on Sunday morning.
Area utilities added more than 1,600 workers to respond to the storm.
Some flight delays and cancellations were announced at airports from Washington to Boston.
The storm is expected to move away by Monday evening.
