1 dead, 2 missing and dozens rescued after remnants of a typhoon lash western Alaska

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — One person was dead and two were missing in western Alaska on Monday after the remnants of Typhoon Halong over the weekend brought hurricane-force winds and ravaging storm surges and floodwaters that swept some homes away, authorities said. More than 50 people had been rescued — some plucked from rooftops.

Officials warned of a long road to recovery and a need for continued support for the hardest-hit communities with winter just around the corner. A U.S. Coast Guard official, Capt. Christopher Culpepper, described the situation in the villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok as “absolute devastation.”

Elsewhere in the U.S., severe weather killed a woman in New York City who was struck by a solar panel, and the Columbus Day Parade there also was canceled. Rescuers in the Phoenix area found the body of a man whose truck was swept away by floodwaters, and crews in southern California prepared for potential mudslides in fire-ravaged areas.

Alaska State Troopers said at least 51 people and two dogs were rescued in Kipnuk and Kwigillingok after the storm system walloped the communities. Both areas saw significant storm surge, according to the National Weather Service.

A woman was found dead and two people remained unaccounted for in Kwigillingok, troopers said. The agency earlier said it was working to confirm secondhand reports of people who were unaccounted for in Kipnuk, but late Monday, said troopers had determined no one there was missing.

According to the nonprofit Coastal Villages Region Fund, most of the residents in both communities had taken shelter in local schools.

In addition to housing concerns, residents impacted by the system across the region reported power outages, a lack of running water, subsistence foods stocked in freezers ruined and damage to home-heating stoves. That damage could make the winter difficult in remote communities where people store food from hunting and fishing to help make it through the season.

Jamie Jenkins, 42, who lives in another hard-hit community, Napakiak, said the storm was “the worst I've ever seen.” She described howling winds and fast-rising waters Sunday morning.

Her mother — whose nearby home shifted on its foundation — and a neighbor whose home flooded came over to Jenkins' place. They tried to wait out the storm, she said, but when the waters reached their top stairs, they got in a boat and evacuated to the school.

Jenkins said “practically the whole community” was there. The men in town gathered their boats and went house to house to pick up anyone else who was still in their homes, she said.

Adaline Pete, who lives in another community, Kotlik, said she had never experienced winds so strong before. An unoccupied house next door flipped over, but she said her family felt safe in their home.

During a news conference organized by Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Alaska's two U.S. senators, Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, said they would continue to focus on climate resilience and infrastructure funds for Alaska. Sullivan said it was the congressional delegation's job to ensure the Trump administration and their colleagues understood the importance of such funds.

Earlier this year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it would end a program aimed at mitigating disaster risks. The decision is being challenged in court.

Murkowski said erosion mitigation projects take time to complete. “But our reality is, we are seeing these storms coming ... certainly on a more frequent basis, and the intensity that we’re seeing seems to be accumulating as well, and so the time to act on it is now because it’s going to take us some time to get these in place,” she said of such projects.

About 380 people live in Kwigillingok, a predominately Alaska Native community on the western shore of Kuskokwim Bay and near the mouth of the Kuskokwim River. A report prepared for the local tribe in 2022 by the Alaska Institute for Justice said the frequency and severity of flooding in the low-lying region had increased in recent years. The report listed relocation of the community as an urgent need.

Erosion and melting permafrost pose threats to infrastructure and in some cases entire communities in Alaska, which is experiencing the impacts of climate change.

In California, rescue crews with helicopters and bulldozers were being pre-positioned near wildfire burn areas to respond to potential debris flows and mudslides as a major storm takes aim at the state. A flood watch was issued starting late Monday for much of Southern California, where several inches of rain were possible through Tuesday. To the north, up to 3 feet (1 meter) of mountain snow was predicted for parts of the Sierra Nevada.

A microburst and thunderstorm hit the city of Tempe, Arizona, on Monday, dropping about a half-inch of rain within 10 minutes, the National Weather Service said. Weather service meteorologist Katherine Berislavich said a microburst — when a storm collapses on itself and pushes out at high wind speeds — can be mistaken for a tornado because of the damage it can cause.

The storm caused significant damage, including uprooting trees that toppled onto vehicles and buildings, and dropping them on streets and sidewalks. A business complex had its roof torn off, and thousands of homes lost power.

Heavy rain drenched much of the state, inundating parking lots and usually dry washes and leaving residential areas looking like rivers.

Brumfield reported from Cockeysville, Maryland. Associated Press reporter Jamie Stengle contributed from Dallas.

In this aerial photo provided by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, the city of Kotzebue, Alaska experiences flooding, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities via AP)

In this aerial photo provided by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, the city of Kotzebue, Alaska, experiences flooding, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities via AP)

In this photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, Kipnuk, Alaska, experiences coastal flooding, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

In this photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, Kipnuk, Alaska, experiences coastal flooding, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

In this photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, Kipnuk, Alaska, experiences coastal flooding, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

Atlantic Ocean waves crash near Atlantic Beach, in Middletown, R.I., Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (Photo/Steven Senne)

A car drives over sand on Highway 12 after a storm, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Buxton, N.C. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

A "For Sale" sign its on a flooded road after a storm, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Buxton, N.C. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Two people battle gusts with their umbrellas as they fight a wind-driven rain storm, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

A homeowner takes a photo after a storm, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Buxton, N.C. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

C. Johnson, of Providence, R.I., carries an umbrella, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, while walking along a rain-soaked walkway near a sculpture, in Providence, R.I. (Photo/Steven Senne)

Stanislav Valchev, of Providence, R.I., left, and Dari Dimitrova, of Lewisburg, Penn., center, carry umbrellas while walking on a rain-soaked bridge, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Providence. (Photo/Steven Senne)

A road is inundated in the midst of a storm, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Buxton, N.C. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

A man walks past houses at risk of collapse in the midst of a storm, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Buxton, N.C. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

A person stands and takes photos of houses at risk of collapse in the midst of a storm, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Buxton, N.C. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

People look out at a flooded road in the midst of a storm, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Buxton, N.C. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

A balcony hangs off a home at risk of collapse in the midst of a storm, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Buxton, N.C. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Jannik Sinner draped his left arm and his racket around Carlos Alcaraz's neck. Alcaraz then put his right arm on Sinner’s shoulder.

The friendly greeting between the two players after the latest in a series of high-stakes matches was a fitting image for the year in men’s tennis.

Sinner and Alcaraz are dominating the game and their levels are so close that they keep alternating who wins the biggest titles.

Alcaraz beat Sinner in a fifth-set tiebreaker in the French Open final; Sinner got revenge at Wimbledon; Alcaraz won again at the U.S. Open; and then Sinner defended his ATP Finals title before his home fans in Turin on Sunday.

Alcaraz sealed the year-ending No. 1 ranking, while No. 2 Sinner goes into the offseason coming off a confidence-boosting victory over his rival.

“The facts are they’re a level above everyone,” said Felix Auger-Aliassime, who was beaten by both Sinner (in the group stage) and Alcaraz (in the semifinals) at the season-ending event for the top eight players.

“The ranking doesn’t lie. They’re the two best players. That’s the facts. Different game styles, but both put extreme pressure on their opponent in different ways,” added Auger-Aliassime, who ends the year at a career-high No. 5. “They keep showing up and playing good, so credit to them.”

Added ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, “These two guys are really incredible for our sport, both on and off the court.”

It was the most-watched tennis match in Italian TV history with 7 million viewers, according to numbers released by the national ratings service Monday.

Sinner, who also won the Australian Open, reached the final of all four Grand Slams and the finals — despite missing three months near the start of the year after settling a doping case.

Like in 2024, Sinner didn’t drop a set at finals — becoming the first player in the event’s history to achieve that feat in two different years.

“I feel to be a better player than last year,” Sinner said. “All the losses I had, I tried to see the positive thing and trying to evolve me as a player. I felt like this happened in a very good way.”

Alcaraz acknowledged a year ago when he won only one match during the group stage at finals that he still had to learn how to play indoors.

Well, consider him adept at the surface now.

“I didn’t doubt about playing and fighting toe-to-toe with Jannik on indoor court,” Alcaraz said. “I’m pretty sure that it’s going to keep growing up, my level on indoor court.”

After the loss to Alcaraz at the U.S. Open, Sinner said he wanted to improve his serve and the results were evident in Turin where he dropped his serve only once — in the opening game of the second set against Alcaraz.

“He’s actually pumped up the miles per hour and he is getting the ball closer to the line, which means he gets a lot more free points,” Darren Cahill, one of Sinner’s coaches, said of the Italian's first serve.

There was also a big 187 kph (116 mph) second serve from Sinner that helped him save a set point against Alcaraz late in the second set.

“I had already served two or three second serves in the same way (in that game) and I kept on losing the point. So I had to come up with something different. I decided for the riskiest option,” Sinner said. “Sometimes you need a bit of courage and some luck. I would rather lose that point then have him win it.”

Added Alcaraz, “That surprised me.”

Auger-Aliassime also reached the U.S. Open semifinals in September, and his ranking rocketed up from No. 30 midway through the year.

“I’ve always believed, since I’m a kid believed, and my ambition was to win Grand Slams and be No. 1 in the world,” the Canadian said. “Now it’s a matter of doing the right things to improve. If I do, we’ll see where that leaves me.”

At 25, Auger-Aliassime is older than both Sinner (24) and Alcaraz (22).

“We want (Sinner) to be playing his best tennis when he’s 28, 29, 30 years of age,” Cahill said. “Hopefully we’re setting the plan and platform for him to be able to do that in a few years.”

While Alcaraz was heading to Bologna to represent Spain in the Davis Cup finals this week, Sinner was starting his offseason and already focusing on 2026.

Sinner will be the two-time defending champion at the Australian Open and then will attempt to win the French Open for the first time.

“Clay is going to be a big target for us next year,” Cahill said. “We’ll keep working on that.”

Andrew Dampf is at https://x.com/AndrewDampf

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz serves to Italy's Jannik Sinner during the final tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts after winning the final tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Italy's Jannik Sinner, left, and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz hug after the final tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, left, and winner Italy's Jannik Sinner stand on the podium after the final tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Italy's Jannik Sinner, left, and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz hug after the final tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)