News coverage might still be sparse right now, but Alaska has recently been hit by a Category 4 typhoon called Halong, which has caused immense damage, particularly to the indigenous Alaskan community. One woman from Alaska has thus spilled out her woes on her TikTok account, as it appears that typhoon aid from the government remains slow; she then blames the defunding of critical disaster response agencies and how the Trump administration is too busy using the National Guard elsewhere.
The complaint came from TikTok user and Alaska local, Notorious BGP or browngirlpride. According to the TikToker, media coverage is somewhat sparse since most media outlets right now are focused on the government shutdown and the Trump administration’s federal layoffs. However, BGP claims at least “20 people” are missing, with some of the victims waking up to their house drifting into the Bering Sea and “entire villages wiped out.”
“Not much is being pushed out there about what’s happening in Alaska right now. Supposedly, help is on the way, but with FEMA being defunded & the National Guard being used to invade cities, rescue efforts are very slim,” tearfully claims BPG. With that in mind, BGP wants everyone to spread the word because aid appears to be slow at the moment, based on her explanation.
It’s not clear how much the current government shutdown or other political and federal issues are affecting the typhoon aid. State leaders, however, have apparently assured Alaska that the White House is involved in assistance and rescue operations. Still, the Trump administration notably denied $11 billion in disaster payments to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) just weeks before Typhoon Halong hit Alaska. The defunding has had disastrous consequences, as FEMA might even be dismantled by the end of 2025.
People Online, Surprisingly, Haven’t Heard a Thing
As expected, some of the top commenters on the TikTok video were shocked by how they heard of the news, especially since they got it from social media. Some were even assuming that the lack of coverage was due to how most of the victims were indigenous people in Alaska, and how every year, they tend to get ignored by the US government after storms.
“If its Native communities. we won’t hear a thing. If you need the government’s help, suddenly you aren’t important. Indigenous people in Alaska need help,” according to a TikTok user. “Our villages and peoples will get help and aid from our tribal governments and corps and the State of Alaska. FEMA has rarely helped anyone that isn’t a major land owner (think rental companies,” swears an Alaskan in the comment section.
Other commenters that claim to be from Canada are calling for an assembly to provide help and rescue to Typhoon Halong victims, “Alright fellow Canadians, it’s up to us to help Alaska since America doesn’t give a [expletive].” With that said, it appears the Air Force and various branches of the military are mobilizing right now to Alaska, though it’s not clear how the indigenous communities will get help now that FEMA could be running on fumes.
