When Alaska Is Tested, AGC Members Show Up

hen the remnants of Typhoon Halong ripped through western Alaska in October, the storm left behind more than broken boardwalks and scattered debris. It disrupted daily life in communities already operating with limited infrastructure and few methods of access. Roads and airports washed out, coastal areas eroded, fuel and water systems were damaged, and many homes were deemed unsafe for families to move back into after the waters receded. We all watched the images online with feelings of despair and helplessness.

In moments like these, Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Alaska members step into roles that are both deeply technical and deeply human. Their work is not only about construction—it is about helping communities regain stability after a terrifying night that changed everything.

Across western Alaska, AGC member companies are working alongside community leaders and state partners to restore essential access, utilities, and structures. Their tasks range from repairing boardwalks and troubleshooting water and fuel line repairs to bringing damaged buildings back into alignment and making homes safe and livable again.

One important part of this story is the rapid statewide mobilization led by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF). Department staff reached out to AGC almost immediately after the storm, making clear that any contractor able to mobilize in western Alaska was needed. In several cases, DOT&PF staff were on the phone with contractors at 6:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning or meeting them at hangars to sort through contract details and determine how to get equipment and crews into affected communities as fast as possible. Their urgency and coordination helped accelerate the entire recovery effort.

In some communities, crews are repairing boardwalks that serve as primary travel routes. In others, workers are leveling houses, repairing exterior walls and roofs, rebuilding entryways, and reconnecting fuel systems so families can safely return home. The work varies by community but the intention is the same: restore what the storm damaged so residents can get back on their feet.

The logistics behind this work are just as challenging. One heavy-lift operator has transported nearly 500,000 pounds of lumber, insulation, generators, and other materials from Bethel to coastal areas in only a few weeks. Every delivery helps keep ground crews productive in remote areas where all supplies must be flown in.

In many western Alaska communities, infrastructure is more than convenience: it is safety and survival. When storms damage boardwalks or roads, mobility is limited. When fuel or water systems fail, basic living conditions deteriorate. When homes are knocked out of level or lose major structural components, families face the possibility of displacement with few good alternatives. These realities make this kind of work deeply personal. While many AGC members are based in urban areas, the work they do often takes them to the most remote corners of the state. Residents of these areas are our friends and neighbors.

When AGC members work in remote regions, they bring the experience, equipment, and determination needed to respond quickly when disaster strikes. Their work stabilizes communities during moments of uncertainty and establishes the groundwork for repairs that will continue well into next season. The pride in this effort is shared across the AGC membership. This work is hard, but also meaningful, and reflects an industry that knows how to solve problems under pressure.

Another part of this response deserves recognition: the strength of AGC ties. Contractors who may compete fiercely for work under normal circumstances are now calling one another for equipment, gravel, storage space, or materials because they know someone in the AGC network has exactly what they need. Relationships built over years make it possible to pick up the phone late at night and secure a hangar so freight can be sorted before an early-morning flight to the coast.

Many more companies are contributing in ways not yet visible beyond project sites. If your team is assisting with storm recovery, we want to hear from you. Please reach out so we can highlight a more complete picture of member contributions in a future issue of The Alaska Contractor.

AGC of Alaska is proud of the dedication and skill our members bring to communities in need. Thank you for the work you are doing. And sincere best wishes to our neighbors and friends in western Alaska as recovery continues.

• Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
• Brice Environmental Services Corporation
• Brice, Inc.
• Brice Services, LLC
• Cruz Construction, Inc.
• Drake Construction, Inc.
• Equipment Source, Inc.
• Everts Air Cargo
• Fullford Electric, Inc.
• GHEMM Company
• Great Northwest, Inc.
• Knik Construction Company, Inc.
• Lynden
• Mass Excavation, Inc.
• Northern Air Cargo
• Qayaq Construction, LLC
• Quality Asphalt Paving/Aggpro
• ROTAK Helicopter Services
• STG, Inc.
• UIC Government Construction, LLC
• Trygg Air Alaska
• Tumet Industries, LLC
• Yukon Equipment, Inc.