New Jersey declares emergency as nor'easter approaches, while Alaska
flooding carries away homes
[October 13, 2025]
By KATHY McCORMACK
A nor’easter churned its way up the East Coast on Sunday, washing out
roads and prompting air travel delays as heavily populated areas of the
Northeast experienced excessive rain, lashing winds and coastal
flooding. Across the continent in western Alaska, the remnants of
Typhoon Halong brought hurricane-force winds and catastrophic flooding
to coastal communities, pushing entire houses off their foundations.
Rescue aircraft were sent to the tiny Alaskan villages of Kipnuk and
Kwigillingok, where there were reports of up to 20 people possibly
unaccounted for, said Jeremy Zidek, spokesperson for the state Division
of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
“We have received reports that people’s homes have floated away and that
people were potentially in those homes,” Zidek told The Associated
Press.
Alaska governor says ‘help is on the way’
At least eight homes were swept away in Kipnuk and at least four homes
were swept away in nearby Kwigillingok, Zidek said.
He said Sunday evening that search efforts were continuing, and that
they were still trying to determine exactly how many people hadn't been
accounted for.
The area is among one of the most isolated in the U.S., where some
communities have few roads and residents use boardwalks, boats and
snowmobiles to get around, Zidek said.
Roads and boardwalks were inundated and power lines were damaged in
Bethel, Napaskiak, Napakiak, and other Yukon-Kuskokwim communities.
Crews worked to clear the airport runway in Bethel, which was littered
with debris from high winds.
According to the nonprofit Coastal Villages Region Fund, nearly 600
people in Kipnuk were taking shelter at a local school while around 300
people in Kwigillingok were sheltering in a school there.
"Every effort will be made to help those hit by this storm. Help is on
the way,” Gov. Mike Dunleavy said in a statement.
National Guard activated in Delaware
Heavy rain fell from the Carolinas all the way north into New England.
“The greatest effects are going to be the coastal flooding potential,”
said meteorologist Bob Oravec with the National Weather Service in
College Park, Maryland.
In Delaware, emergency management officials activated the state National
Guard in response to rising floodwaters and harsh winds. A voluntary
evacuation order was issued for the town of Bowers Beach, where the
Murderkill River flows into Delaware Bay.
In North Carolina’s Outer Banks, an area that’s seen significant storm
damage this season, ocean overwash spread across Highway 12 at a motel
near Buxton, the Dare County Sheriff’s Office posted online Sunday. The
office urged travelers to be cautious and put property owners on alert
as high tide approached.
The waves were ferocious at the Hatteras Island town of Buxton, where
several beachfront homes have fallen into the water in recent weeks. One
house was losing its pilings Sunday and appeared close to collapsing.
“The waves are crashing really hard into the houses and the dunes, and
it’s all eroding,” said Robert Splawn, who was watching on the beach.
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A man walks past houses at risk of collapse in the midst of a storm,
Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Buxton, N.C. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)
Water rescues in South Carolina
Flooding was widespread down the coast in Georgetown County, South
Carolina, where several motorists had to be rescued when rising
waters inundated their cars, Emergency Services Director Brandon
Ellis told the Post and Courier on Sunday.
The weather service said parts of the county received up to 7 inches
(18 centimeters) of rain.
Further south in Charleston, South Carolina, many downtown streets
were closed because of flooding. Homeowner David Graubner spent the
weekend pumping out his property, hoping to avoid a repeat of
Friday, when the high tide brought nearly a foot (30 centimeters) of
water into his garage, where his new Corvette was parked.
"And I got all my toys in the garage and tools and stuff. So
whatever helps. Even lowering the water by a few inches makes a
difference,” Graubner told WCIV-TV.
There were several road closures in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as
heavy rain overwhelmed that city’s stormwater system.
“Please be safe and stay home, if possible,” Myrtle Beach officials
posted on Facebook.
Emergency declarations for New York and New Jersey
All of New Jersey has been under a state of emergency since Saturday
night. It's expected to last into Monday, authorizing the state's
emergency services personnel to be activated as necessary.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued an emergency declaration for eight
southern counties in her state as the storm gained strength Sunday
evening. She urged people to monitor forecasts and avoid travel.
Parts of the state are forecast to experience moderate to major
coastal flooding, inland flash flooding, winds up to 60 mph (97 kph),
up to 5 inches (about 13 centimeters) of rain and high surf,
potentially causing beach erosion. Some volunteers were putting
sandbags at beaches.
The National Weather Service placed New York City, Long Island and
southern Westchester County under a coastal flood warning and wind
advisory through at least Monday afternoon. Coastal areas of
suburban Long Island could see flooding, with up to 3 inches (about
8 centimeters) of rain and high winds, the weather service said.
Wind gusts of more than 30 mph (48 kph) were already being recorded
in the region on Sunday morning.
Utilities in the area have added more than 1,600 workers to respond
to the storm.
Some flight delays and cancellations were announced in airports from
Washington to Boston.
The storm was expected to move out by Monday night.
___
Associated Press reporters Christopher Weber in Los Angeles; Jamie
Stengle in Dallas; Julie Walker in New York City; Michael Hill in
Albany, New York, contributed to this story.
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