​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Press Releases and FAQ​​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Press Releases

Mayor's Press Releases

​Emergency Management Status Reports

State of Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Frequently Asked Questions

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This FAQ provides an overview of the Municipality of Anchorage’s sheltering operations, support services, and interagency efforts to assist evacuees. If any information is unclear or appears incorrect, please use the feedback button in the sidebar to share your input.
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How do I report an emergency?​​​

• Call 9-1-1

What happened in Western Alaska in October 2025?

• On October 8 and 11, fall sea storms and remnants of Typhoon Halong caused widespread flooding and infrastructure damage across Western Alaska. Many households were displaced, prompting a large-scale, multi-agency response to support both local recovery and evacuee sheltering in Anchorage.

Who is coordinating the response?

• The response is led by the State of Alaska, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management​ (DHS&EM) now partnering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in collaboration with many additional State of Alaska agencies, The Red Cross of Alaska, ​Alaska Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasater (AKVOAD), Municipality of Anchorage EOC, ​and many more state, local, and federal partners. Key priorities include sheltering evacuees, stabilizing the incident, and supporting long-term recovery.
  

What are the current sheltering efforts in Anchorage?

• 655 evacuees were airlifted to Anchorage. Two congregate shelters—UAA Alaska Airlines Center and the Egan Center—are currently housing hundreds of residents. The goal is to transition all shelter resident to non-congregate housing. For the latest numbers, refer to the latest update on the Status Page.

What do you mean by "congregate housing" and "non-congregate housing"

• Congregate Housing
  Congregate housing refers to shared living spaces where multiple individuals or families reside together in a common facility. These shelters typically include:
  
  • Shared sleeping areas (e.g., gymnasiums, large halls)
  • Communal bathrooms and showers
  • Centralized meal services
  • On-site support services (medical, behavioral health, case management)
  This model is often used during the initial phase of emergency response because it allows for rapid setup and centralized care. However, it can present challenges related to privacy, health risks (especially during flu season), and long-term comfort.
• Non-Congregate Housing Non-congregate housing provides individual or family units in separate spaces, such as:
  • Hotel rooms
  • Apartments
  • Modular units or trailers
  This approach offers greater privacy, safety, and autonomy, making it more suitable for longer-term recovery. It also helps reduce the spread of illness and allows for more tailored support services.

What services are available at the shelters?

• Shelters provide:
• Feeding operations and shower facilities
• Medical and behavioral health care (via ANTHC, Red Cross, and Division of Forestry)
• Meals and snacks; with Culturally appropriate coordinated through ANTHC
• Translation services
• Transportation support
• Education services for school-aged children
• Access to apply to various assistance programs

How is animal sheltering being handled?

• MOA and Mat-Su Borough are providing transitional shelter for evacuated animals. All animals receive medical assessments and are matched with foster placements or reunified with owners within 24 hours. Anchorage has temporary capacity for up to ​100 animals, and Mat-Su can accommodate 10. Anchorage Animal Care and Control is assisting in tracking all displaced animals in the disaster. ​
  

What are the current health and safety measures?

• Security is heightened at shelter sites. During flu and cold season, shelter teams are actively promoting health awareness. Medical staffing includes:
  • One physician and one pharmacist per shelter (daytime)
  • Red Cross nursing staff (daytime)
  • EMT support from the Division of Forestry (24/7)
  • Increased cleaning and sanitation at the Egan Center

What transportation options are available for evacuees?

• Evacuees have received bus passes from MOA, with orientation and training provided. Tribal partners are now offering rotating shuttle services, with schedules posted at shelter sites. The Anchorage School District has assisted with group transportation and is accomodating evacuee children who have enrolled in local schools with bus service.
  

What are the key incident objectives?

• Ensure safety, welfare, and public health of evacuees
• Provide secure sheltering for people and animals
• Support medical, translation, and education services
• Transition evacuees to non-congregate housing
• Maintain transparent communication and resource management

What declarations have been made?

• Presidential Disaster Declaration (DR-4893-AK): Oct. 22
• State Disaster Declaration: Oct. 9
• MOA Emergency Declaration: Oct. 17
• These declarations enable federal, state, and local coordination and funding for recovery efforts.

Where can displaced residents find resources?

• The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation has launched a webpage: Resources for Alaskans Displaced by Typhoon Halong & How to Help​

What agencies are actively involved?

• State of Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
  
• State of Alaska Departments of Transportation, Environmental Conservation, Natural Resources, and more.
  
• UAA Incident Management Team
• Anchorage School District Emergency Management
• Mat-Su Borough Emergency Management
• State of Alaska Department of Health
• Red Cross
• Salvation Army
• United Way of Anchorage / Alaska 2-1-1
• Numerous MOA departments and volunteers