Large winter storm slams America's largest state

The largest storm in forty years has hit the state of Alaska. Hurricane force winds of around 137 mph pummeled Alaska's western coast creating massive sea surges. With this storm came heavy snow and rain which affected the entire western portion of the state. Over 40 communities have reported large amounts of damage from this storm with winds, flooding and erosion being the culprits of the damage caused. Other communities that were hit hard by this storm included the northwest Alaska villages of Point Hope, built on a large gravel spit, and Kivalina which is affected by landslides due to its highly eroded topography. The amount of people impacted in these two towns is around 1500 people. The location of where these towns were built had a direct relationship to the amount of damage that was endured by these towns. The large storm surges and flooding have resulted in mass wastage events to occur washing away homes.



http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/11/10/alaska-storm-british-columbia.html?cmp=googleeditorspick

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