After storm batters flood waters receding western Alaska
By the worst storm in a half century in parts of western Alaska floodwaters were receding, leaving behind debris flung by powerful Bering Sea waves into beaches and seaside communities. National Weather Service meteorologist, Kaitlyn Lardeo, said that from the Bering Strait into the Chukchi Sea on Alaska’s northwest coast the remnants of Typhoon Merbok were weakening Sunday as the storm system moved north, where it still threatens smaller communities. She said that “For the next few days this guy is going to hang out in the Chukchi Sea and just rapidly weaken because it’s so stationary”. By the force of the incoming water several communities reported homes were knocked off their foundations, often propelled by winds gusting near 70 miles per hour (113 kilometres per hour). Under a bridge until it got caught one house floated down a river in Nome. About 450 residents on the western coast sought refuge in shelters; many homes were flooded, in Hooper Bay with more than half of...