The remnant storms of Typhoon Halong tore into western Alaska with such ferocity that they pulled Steven Anaver\u2019s home from its foundation and buoyed it across choppy water \u2014 with him inside.
Videos he shared depict a desperate scene as waters rose inside his home and a frantic flooding raged outside. The fierce winds and historically high water levels devastated several small communities on October 12, displacing over 2,000 people and necessitating one of the most significant airlift operations in Alaska's history.
At least one person has died and two others remain missing due to the chaos.
The water level rose rapidly on Saturday night in Anaver\u2019s village of Kwigillingok, one of the two Yup\u2019ik communities hardest hit. Anaver watched through his darkened window, the power already out.
The storm had surpassed anything he had ever witnessed. By around 3 a.m. on Sunday, the water level leapt to his knees in mere minutes. In a frightening turn of events, the house shifted, tilted, and began to float.
Inside, belongings like plastic bags, blankets, furniture cushions floated as though his home were a ship lost at sea. Outside, the dark waters lapped threateningly close to the windows.
Additionally, loud booms echoed as waves crashed the house into surrounding structures, leaving the atmosphere tense with uncertainty and fear. The chilling winds penetrated through an opening in the wall, only adding to the suspense of the moment.
Anaver shared later, “This was a big challenge for my anxiety,” as he repeatedly contacted family members for reassurance.
His attempts to document the horrifying experience felt futile at first, but he finally recognized familiar landmarks when the moonlight illuminated his surroundings. After floating nearly a mile, Anaver's home came to a halt near a hill, just feet from a river.
Eventually, after the waters receded, two neighbors arrived to assist him, and within three days, he managed to document his ordeal and share it with the world, saying, “I was inches away from death. I escaped.”
