American Red Cross workers count cases of bottled water being delivered on Oct. 29, 2025, to the Alaska Airlines Center on the campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage. The center was being used as a temporary shelter and service hub for Yukon-Kuskokwim residents evacuated from their home region to Anchorage after the remants of Typhoon Halong hit their villages. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
The two mass emergency shelters in Anchorage set up for Western Alaska residents displaced by ex-Typhoon Halong have now closed, state officials said Tuesday, as families move to non-congregate shelters like hotels and other longer term housing.
The emergency shelter that was set up at the William A. Egan Civic and Convention Center in downtown Anchorage for residents displaced by ex-Typhoon Halong is closed as of Tuesday, state officials said in a statement. The shelter at the Alaska Airlines Center on the campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage closed on Friday.
The Spenard Recreation Center has opened as a temporary shelter for displaced residents if needed, and will serve as a short term “pass-through location” as they transition to longer term housing, the announcement said.
“Closing the Egan Center doesn’t signal the end of our shelter support mission or diminish the urgent need to transition more people into non-congregate housing,” said Bryan Fisher, director of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management in a statement.
“The state is grateful for the Municipality of Anchorage and Mayor LaFrance’s comprehensive support for the evacuees, and we value our continued partnership. It’s a clear example of how Alaskans always take care of our own,” he said.
The U.S. Postal Service will continue to operate a mail service center at the Egan location until the end of the month, to help evacuees set up new mailing addresses where assistance checks can be mailed.
A total of 483 people have transitioned from the emergency shelters in Anchorage as of Monday, according to an update by the division.
On Monday, a disaster assistance center opened in Anchorage, in coordination with the Calista Corporation, to support displaced residents and connect them with services, according to a state announcement.
The center is located at the Calista Maani Building in Midtown Anchorage, and will provide support for residents registering for individual assistance with state, federal or Red Cross programs. Calista and other partners are also providing career workshops, jobs resources and help to coordinate job opportunities.
As of Monday, 1,280 people had applied for state individual assistance, according to a state update, and 518 people had applied for federal assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. State officials said both agencies are coordinating to share information and encourage residents to apply for each program.
State of Alaska Individual Assistance (IA) – Deadline is December 9, 2025
To register for State of Alaska Individual Assistance:
Call 1-844-445-7131, Mon – Fri, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Or apply online at ready.alaska.gov/Recovery/IA
FEMA Individual Assistance (IA) – Deadline is December 22, 2025
To register for FEMA Individual Assistance:
Call 1-866-342-1699, Mon – Sun, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Or apply online at disasterassistance.gov
Red Cross Assistance
To Register for assistance through the American Red Cross:
Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or 800-733-2767
Non-Congregate Sheltering (NCS)
To register for long-term, temporary, housing in the Non-Congregate Shelter Program:
Call 907-759-6927, Mon – Fri, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
