The remnants of Typhoon Haron struck western Alaska with such intensity that Steven Annabar’s house was torn from its foundation, lifting it into the air while he was still inside.
A video he shared with The Associated Press depicts a chaotic situation, where water surged into his home and floods raged outside.
On October 12, the storm’s violent winds and unprecedented water levels devastated several small communities, displacing more than 2,000 residents and triggering one of the largest airlift operations Alaska has ever seen.
Tragically, at least one individual has died, and two others remain unaccounted for.
On Saturday night, the water levels began to rise alarmingly in the village of Kwigilingok, one of the two hardest-hit Yup’ik communities.
Annabar peered out into the pitch-black darkness, having lost power some time earlier.
He described the storm as the most severe he had ever encountered. Around 3 a.m. on Sunday, the water escalated swiftly, reaching knee height in less than ten minutes.
Shortly thereafter, the house started to wobble, tilt, and float.
Video captured from inside showed plastic bags, blanket boxes, leather boots, and furniture cushions drifting around. The walls shook like they were on a ship at sea.
Just a few feet from the window, dark water engulfed the house and began to carry it away. Annabar heard a loud crash and felt a chilling wind rush through a gap in one wall.
“This was a significant challenge for my anxiety,” he remarked. “I kept reaching out to my family.”
More crashing sounds reverberated as waves slammed the house into other structures.
“Oh my god,” he posted on Facebook around 5:30 a.m.
Annabar attempted to take photos to gauge his surroundings—the camera had a better view than he did in the dark—but it wasn’t until the moon appeared that he could see anything clearly.
When he finally recognized his surroundings, he realized he was floating about a mile away.
A small hill with protruding boards halted his house just meters from the river, dragging nearby homes even further away.
By around 7 a.m., when the water had receded enough, two neighbors arrived to assist, equipped with waders.
Three days later, Annabar shared a video on Facebook, reflecting on his harrowing experience. “I was one step away from death,” he wrote. “I ran for my life.”
