Rapid erosion and permafrost degradation mean school district officials are in a race to shore up the building for the remainder of the school year.

A recent Interior Department grant aims to help residents in Newtok move to higher ground, but it’s just a sliver of what’s needed.

Melting permafrost and severe erosion have plagued the community for decades. The most recent storm brought waves so fierce, the water claimed roughly half of the 80 or so remaining feet of land that stands between the back end of the school and the edge of the Ningliq river.

A site visit to Newtok on September 30, shows severe erosion from impacts of storm (typhoon Merbok). The images show both severe permafrost melt and river erosion.

Moving Newtok residents to the new village of Mertarvik has been planned for decades. This month, several families moved into new homes.

Newtok's school faces demolition due to severe riverbank erosion, as the community grapples with climate-induced relocation challenges.