Dozens rescued, several still missing after monster storm brings violent wind gusts and record storm surge to western AK

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

7. The landscape and lack of infrastructure is working against them ...

I lived in the Y-K Delta for a year back in the late 80's in Bethel. At the time the only paved roads in the region were a few miles in Bethel itself. In between towns and villages were nothing but tundra and (often frozen) waterways.

To move between them you used snowmobiles, dogsleds, or airplanes. Boats were only an option in the short summer.

Floods were also an annual event when the ice on the rivers broke. What I am seeing reported is different, worse.

The lack of roads or any quick way of traveling will make S&R efforts much harder than in the SE of the state. Planes are pretty much the only hope, and they need places to land. If the rivers are still flowing pontoon planes can do it, if not the flood may make regular landings impossible.

I wish them well.