The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $1 million in grant funding to support disaster-relief jobs and employment and training services for Alaska residents in the aftermath of severe storms and flooding caused by Typhoon Halong.
Beginning Oct. 8 and continuing through Oct. 13, 2025, the remnants of Typhoon Halong caused a series of powerful storms that struck substantial portions of Alaska’s western, northern, and southwestern coasts. Wind gusts exceeding 100 mph caused extensive storm surges and flooding that destroyed roads, runways, critical infrastructure, and washed away or severely damaging hundreds of homes and buildings in the affected communities. Alaska’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management reported that 1,400 residents were evacuated from 49 communities to Bethel with some later being relocated to Anchorage because of limited emergency housing.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a major disaster declaration for the storms, enabling Alaska to request federal assistance for recovery efforts in the Northwest Arctic Borough, Lower Yukon Regional Educational Attendance Area and Lower Kuskokwim.
This Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant allows the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development to provide residents with temporary jobs focused on cleanup and recovery efforts in affected communities. Funding will also provide employment and training services to eligible individuals who evacuated from uninhabitable areas, enabling them to work in the communities where they are currently relocated until repairs are completed and residents can return home.
Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 , National Dislocated Worker Grants provide a state or local board with funding for direct services and assistance in areas experiencing a major economic dislocation event that leads to workforce needs exceeding available resources.