Federal Response to Alaskan Storm Leaves Hundreds Homeless and Criticized for Delay in Disaster Declaration.
The recent devastating storm in Alaska, which displaced hundreds of people and left them without homes, has raised questions about the federal government's response. According to experts, President Trump's efforts to dismantle weather and climate protections have hindered the warning process, leading to catastrophic damage and a large-scale evacuation.
The storm, Typhoon Halong, made landfall on October 12 in remote communities in the Yukon-Kuskokwim delta of south-west Alaska, causing widespread flooding that forced people to leave behind their belongings. The situation was exacerbated by the fact that many weather balloons were not operating due to staffing constraints imposed by the Trump administration.
"This disaster is of a severity that the request would have normally been signed within a day of receiving a governor's request," said Samantha Montano, an emergency management expert. "Not doing so is a deeply alarming departure from what Americans have come to expect from the federal government in times of disaster."
The delayed federal response has also raised concerns about the long-term recovery process. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy estimated that it could take over 18 months for survivors to return to their homes due to the severity of the damage.
Critics, including experts and local officials, argue that President Trump's cuts to weather balloons have had a significant impact on the accuracy of weather forecasts, leading to a delayed warning process. Rick Thoman, a former National Weather Service meteorologist, said that "the final track and intensity weren't clear until the storm was within 36 hours of crossing into Alaska waters," highlighting the importance of timely weather forecasts in evacuations.
The situation has also highlighted the region's vulnerability to rising sea levels due to climate change. The Trump administration's cuts to federal grants aimed at helping the region mitigate disaster risks have been criticized by experts and local officials.
As the recovery process begins, many are left wondering what could have been done differently to prevent this disaster. The delayed response has left hundreds without homes, and the long-term effects of this storm will likely be felt for years to come.
The recent devastating storm in Alaska, which displaced hundreds of people and left them without homes, has raised questions about the federal government's response. According to experts, President Trump's efforts to dismantle weather and climate protections have hindered the warning process, leading to catastrophic damage and a large-scale evacuation.
The storm, Typhoon Halong, made landfall on October 12 in remote communities in the Yukon-Kuskokwim delta of south-west Alaska, causing widespread flooding that forced people to leave behind their belongings. The situation was exacerbated by the fact that many weather balloons were not operating due to staffing constraints imposed by the Trump administration.
"This disaster is of a severity that the request would have normally been signed within a day of receiving a governor's request," said Samantha Montano, an emergency management expert. "Not doing so is a deeply alarming departure from what Americans have come to expect from the federal government in times of disaster."
The delayed federal response has also raised concerns about the long-term recovery process. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy estimated that it could take over 18 months for survivors to return to their homes due to the severity of the damage.
Critics, including experts and local officials, argue that President Trump's cuts to weather balloons have had a significant impact on the accuracy of weather forecasts, leading to a delayed warning process. Rick Thoman, a former National Weather Service meteorologist, said that "the final track and intensity weren't clear until the storm was within 36 hours of crossing into Alaska waters," highlighting the importance of timely weather forecasts in evacuations.
The situation has also highlighted the region's vulnerability to rising sea levels due to climate change. The Trump administration's cuts to federal grants aimed at helping the region mitigate disaster risks have been criticized by experts and local officials.
As the recovery process begins, many are left wondering what could have been done differently to prevent this disaster. The delayed response has left hundreds without homes, and the long-term effects of this storm will likely be felt for years to come.
I mean, come on! This is like a textbook example of how not to handle a disaster. The fact that weather balloons were grounded due to staffing issues from the Trump admin's crazy policies 
just made things worse. And now we're seeing the devastating consequences - hundreds without homes, and it's gonna take 18 months for people to even think about going back home. That's not a disaster response, that's a complete failure of leadership 
. I'm all for fiscal responsibility, but when it comes to saving lives, you gotta put aside the politics and get it done ASAP 
. And can we talk about the role climate change played in this whole thing? It's like the government is just sitting on their hands while Alaska gets hammered by rising sea levels. What are they even doing over there? 
I mean, what's next, they're gonna tell people to just pack their bags and head out whenever there's a threat? Come on, Alaska is basically a war zone already due to climate change so why not take proactive measures instead of reacting after it's too late? 
... i mean, you'd think with all the tech they got these days, warning people about an impending storm would be a no-brainer 
. but if they cut back on weather balloons due to staff constraints, that's like taking away a vital tool from first responders. it's not just about the immediate danger of flooding and storms, it's about long-term recovery too 
. and the fact that they're already saying it could take 18 months for people to get their homes back is just devastating 
. I mean, can you believe that because of some dude's attempts to mess with weather forecasting, people were left without homes during the storm? It's just mind-boggling! And to think that it could take 18 months for them to get back into their houses?! That's just crazy talk! 
What's going on is a perfect example of how our leaders' priorities can affect everyday people. We need to make sure we're taking care of each other and the planet, not just looking out for our own interests! 
the thing is, I'm still trying to wrap my head around why they didn't just declare a disaster right away... like, what's the delay even costing us? $1 million here, $5 million there... doesn't seem that expensive compared to the lives and homes lost. also, isn't it true that weather balloons are just one piece of the puzzle? wouldn't knowing about the storm 36 hours in advance still be better than nothing? 
You know what's just as bad, though - the fact that it takes 18 months for people to get back into their homes. That's not recovery, that's just waiting around for the government to sort stuff out again... 
And don't even get me started on these staffing constraints. Who gets cut from a weather balloon team? The guy who actually needs to fix the balloons? 
And now hundreds are homeless and it's been 18 months since the storm happened... that's so not okay! 
This is just so frustrating and I'm literally shaking with anger right now 
... but we cant just place all the blame on trump's admin... whats about all the other factors that contribute to disasters like rising sea levels? 
it's not like it was a surprise, the experts said so 
and now everyone's gonna be living in tents for 18 months 
? Like, how are we supposed to prepare if we dont know what's coming? It's like they're not even trying to help 
. The situation in Alaska is really highlighting the importance of climate change mitigation and disaster preparedness 
.
It's crazy! Experts say he's makin all these cuts without thinkin about the consequences, & now we got people homeless 'n stuff. I mean, I know climate change is a big deal, but can't we just take care of our own country 1st? 
they're probly just trying to improve their systems so next time it happens, they can respond even better 
. Trump's cuts 2 weather balloons r a huge deal 
. I feel 4 Alaska rn, dey deserve better 
. The feds need 2 step up their game & make sure we r prepared 4 these kinds of disasters 
I'm really worried about people back in Alaska, like 400+ folks are homeless now 
. The govts delay in responding to this disaster is a major issue, it's not just the amount of damage but also how long people have been without homes 
. With the climate change and rising sea levels, I think we need to invest more in areas that prevent disasters like this from happening again 
. The recovery process is gonna take a looong time 