A Storm Has Caused Widespread Flooding in The Western US State Of Alaska

A powerful storm moving north across the Bering Strait caused widespread flooding in several coastal communities in western Alaska, knocking out power and sending residents fleeing for higher ground, AP reported on September 17, local time.

Jeremy Zidek, a spokesman for the Alaska Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said there were no immediate reports of injuries from the storm. Local officials have warned communities that some places could see the worst flooding in 50 years and that it could take up to 14 hours for the water to subside. The powerful storm was caused by Typhoon Miaopai, which caused floods that washed away some homes. On the 17th, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy issued a disaster declaration for the affected communities.

Meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Fairbanks said the high water level near the northern Bering Strait would continue until Monday night and was expected to begin subsiding on Monday, while the Chukchi Sea and Kotzebu Bay areas further north would continue to rise until Monday.