In much of Alaska, where internet service is slow or missing, and brutal weather can frequently be life-threatening, a plan to disband a long-televised daily weather report is causing anguish and concerns about access to critical information.

“Oh no! I hope they don’t,” said Chariton Epchook of the village of Kwethluk along the state’s southwest coast. “Checking the weather daily is very important for planning purposes when we’re out trying to live off the land and water.”

Epchook is among many thousands of rural Alaskans who live in areas with almost no roads, and whose livelihoods depend on fishing, hunting sea mammals, including whales and planting and harvesting berries. Residents often travel hours to reach fishing areas or “berry camps” and typically use open, flat-bottomed boats to do so by river. To reach medical services in larger towns, shop for supplies or even to get to some schools, many families rely on small airplanes. Excessive winds can swamp both types of transportation. Unexpected warming endangers boats and snowmobiles traveling on frozen rivers.