NGA - National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
01/21/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/21/2026 10:03
NGA Provides Imagery Support for Typhoon Recovery Operations
NGA Provides Imagery Support for Typhoon Recovery Operations
When the remnants of Typhoon Halong entered the Bering Sea in early October 2025, it brought devastation with it. The typhoon hit portions of western Alaska with a record storm surge, pushing water levels more than 6 feet above the normal high tide line.
The western coast of Alaska is home to some of the most isolated communities in the nation, largely populated by Alaska Natives. Separated from the state's highway system, these villages are accessible only by air or the frigid Bering Sea, significantly complicating rescue and recovery efforts as hundreds of homes were destroyed and dozens of residents were swept out to sea.
Alaska Air National Guard rescue personnel, assigned to the 176th Wing, conduct search and rescue operations over Kipnuk, Alaska following the devastating Typhoon Halong, Oct. 12, 2025. The Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management worked with the Alaska Organized Militia and the U.S. Coast Guard during recovery operations. (Courtesy photo)
Federal and state agencies from across the nation quickly mobilized to support, including NGA, FEMA, the U.S Coast Guard and the Alaska Organized Militia.
NGA's role in disaster response proved critical as NGA rapidly scaled its monitoring, delivering imagery that enabled flood damage assessment and search and rescue operations - even working through a holiday weekend and government shutdown to meet urgent requests.
"When we get requests like this, we throw the kitchen sink at it, we do everything we can," said an NGA analyst who supported the mission. "The watch is always there, 24/7, 365 days a year."
Following the devastating Typhoon Halong, members of the State Emergency Operations Center and the Alaska Organized Militia coordinate storm response operations at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Oct. 14, 2025. (Alaska National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña)
NGA Maven also played a role in the disaster relief efforts. Half the state away at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, members of the response force utilized technologies fueled by NGA Maven to coordinate a clear operating picture across the various teams and agencies mobilized to support.
"Maven gives us a clear visual of what's happening on the ground," said an Airman assigned to the Alaska National Guard's Joint Forces Headquarters. "We can see which communities have received supplies, where our people are located and what areas still need support."
"It keeps everyone reading from the same page and reduces confusion during fast-moving missions," they continued. "This was our first big event using all these tools in a real response. We're seeing how much they help us do our job and serve communities across Alaska."
Alaska Organized Militia members assigned to Task Force Bethel interact with a puppy at Kipnuk, Alaska, during post-storm recovery efforts for Operation Halong Response, Oct. 21, 2025. (Courtesy photo)
When NGA concluded its imagery support on Oct. 20, recovery teams had successfully transitioned from immediate response to long-term rebuilding efforts. The combination of NGA's high-resolution imaging and tools powered by NGA Maven's analysis guided responders to where help was needed most, ultimately reducing recovery timelines and saving American lives.
An Alaska Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter, assigned to the 207th Aviation Troop Command, transport takes off from Bethel, Alaska, while transporting Alaska Organized Militia personnel and relief supplies during Operation Halong Response, Oct. 28, 2025. (Courtesy photo)
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