Post-Typhoon Merbok - A Review of Impacts and Decision Support Services Provided to Alaska Coastal Communities

Typhoon Merbok developed in the western Pacific in mid-September 2022, and moved north into the Bering Sea as an extra-tropical storm on the 15th through 17th bringing life threatening conditions to Bering Sea Coastal Communities. Post-Typhoon Merbok rapidly intensified into the strongest storm system observed in the Bering Sea during September in at least the last 70 years. It produced hurricane force winds, 50-foot seas, and a record duration storm surge, well before the seasonal formation of protective nearshore sea ice, impacting over 1000 miles of Bering Sea coastline in Western Alaska. The storm resulted in widespread and severe damage to many communities. In some communities, 80% of residences and the majority of winter food stocks were destroyed. All the communities impacted are considered “Underserved” and are in the lowest FEMA category for Community Resilience and the highest category for Social Vulnerability. The Anchorage and Fairbanks National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Offices, and the Alaska Environmental Science and Services Integration Center (AESSIC), began messaging the potential severity and impacts of the storm on September 11th to get the word out as early as possible due to the many significant logistical and communications challenges in this region. Innovative methods were used to create concise and consistent graphical information using data gathered from disparate sources. Traditional media and social media were leveraged to communicate with as many people as possible; including the first ever joint Facebook Live sessions used by NWS Alaska. Despite the widespread damage from the storm, there were no fatalities reported. An overview of the storm, coastal impacts, and Decision Support Services will be presented.