Annual glacial outburst flooding affects Juneau’s Mendenhall Valley

A sunrise position of flooding connected Juneau’s Long Run Drive successful nan Mendenhall Valley connected Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Louis Coullard)

Glacial outburst flooding successful Juneau’s Mendenhall Lake and River peaked overnight Monday, pinch flood waters inundating immoderate residential areas and cresting astatine near-record levels around 4 a.m. Tuesday.

The Mendenhall River crested astatine 15.99 feet conscionable past 3 a.m. and has started to fall, according to a National Weather Service update posted astatine 4 a.m. Tuesday. Water surpassed nan level of past year’s flooding, 15.47 feet, astatine astir 1 a.m.

Water continues to emergence on nan Mendenhall River during Juneau’s yearly glacial outburst flood connected Monday, August 5, 2024. (Eric Stone/Alaska Public Media)

Expected flood impacts supra 15 feet see “up to 2 feet of h2o covering Killewich Drive and h2o entering nan backyards of houses on nan southbound broadside of Marion Drive. Rivercourt Way, Lakeview Court, Center Court, Parkview Court, Turn Street and Northland Street could person up to 1.5 feet of h2o complete nan road. Up to 1 ft of h2o covering Riverside Drive astatine Tournure Street.” Homes were expected to statesman experiencing flooding astatine 14.5 feet connected Meander Way and View Drive.

The City and Borough of Juneau worked pinch Capital City Fire/Rescue and nan Juneau Police Department to rumor voluntary removal orders for neighborhoods that mightiness return connected h2o arsenic flood waters proceed to rise. The city strongly advised residents on nan stream to evacuate their homes if they unrecorded successful 1 of nan areas astir apt to acquisition flooding, sending a matter to residents conscionable earlier 7 p.m. Monday.

An removal informing texted by nan City and Borough of Juneau during nan flooding.

According to Deputy City Manager Robert Barr, much than 20 group arrived astatine nan city’s emergency shelter astatine Floyd Dryden Middle School by 3 a.m. Tuesday, pinch much than 30 group location arsenic of 6 a.m.

“We person group showing up beautiful wet, successful their pajamas,” Barr said. “We decidedly saw flooding this twelvemonth successful areas we didn’t spot past year.”

That shelter will stay unfastened done nan day Tuesday.

Last year, emergency evacuations only applied to Marion Drive, though galore different neighborhoods were affected by flooding. Officials opportunity residents westbound of Riverside Drive should move important belongings to higher crushed and beryllium prepared to walk nan nighttime location else. 

Water levels emergence successful nan Mendenhall River beneath Mendenhall Loop Bridge during Juneau’s yearly glacial outburst flood connected Monday, August 5, 2024. (Photo by Eric Stone/Alaska Public Media)

“It’s difficult to make those calls, and make those decisions astir wherever to urge evacuations,” Barr said. “We really do besides trust connected nan group successful those neighborhoods to beryllium paying attraction and making their ain decisions.”

The Mendenhall Campground was evacuated Sunday evening. Low-lying areas location person taken connected h2o from Mendenhall Lake. 

Alaska Electric Light and Power trim disconnected powerfulness to nan campground arsenic a precaution, later cutting powerfulness to View Drive and respective different streets affected by flooding. Any neighborhoods that mislaid powerfulness during past year’s flood should beryllium prepared to suffer it again. 

Juneau Animal Rescue is offering emergency boarding for pets successful need, arsenic abstraction allows. Those looking to driblet disconnected their pets tin interaction Animal Control and Protection astatine 907-789-6997 to study more. 

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is asking residents to unafraid their heating lipid tanks arsenic portion of their flood preparation. Oil drums and propane tanks were swept distant during past year’s flood, which posed a contamination threat.

Homeowners should adjacent substance vessel connections, elevate piping and anchor tanks to forestall them being carried away. 

People are encouraged to limit conveyance postulation astir nan Mendenhall River to let soft evacuations and emergency response. 

Some roads and trails person already been closed, including nan Diamond Park Pedestrian Bridge, Kaxdigoowu Héen Dei (Brotherhood Bridge Trail), nan Airport Emergency Vehicle Access Road and Airport Dike Trail and Skater’s Cabin Road.

The h2o level rises on nan Mendenhall River during Juneau’s yearly glacial outburst flood connected Monday, August 5, 2024. (Photo by Eric Stone/Alaska Public Media)