AkGlobe News - Juneau: Mendenhall River flooding update: information for residents and homeowners

Trending...

~ Juneau, Alaska - In the early morning hours of August 6, the Mendenhall River reached a record-breaking height of 15.99 feet, causing severe flooding in the Mendenhall Valley. The community was left reeling from the unprecedented disaster, with over 100 homes damaged or impacted by floodwaters.

Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or fatalities. However, the damage was widespread and has left residents facing a long road to recovery. As the community begins to pick up the pieces and move forward, officials are urging residents to take necessary precautions and seek assistance if needed.

The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) has set up a dedicated flood response webpage at juneau.org/manager/flood-response for all the latest information and resources.

One of the first steps taken by CBJ was opening an emergency shelter at Floyd Dryden Middle School on August 5. The shelter provided temporary housing for several dozen residents who were forced to evacuate their homes. As of Tuesday, August 6, all residents have departed for other accommodations. However, CBJ staff remain on standby in case further sheltering needs arise.

More on AkGlobe News

For those in need of long-term sheltering assistance, CBJ is encouraging them to reach out to their office for help connecting with available resources.

In addition to providing shelter, CBJ is also offering building safety and damage assessment services for impacted homeowners. Residents can contact CBJ building inspectors with any questions or concerns about their individual situations.

The Red Cross will also be providing assistance in the coming weeks to help with formal damage assessment documentation. More information will be made available soon.

Thanks to Governor Mike Dunleavy's declaration of disaster emergency, additional resources and funding are now available for residents and homeowners affected by the flood. The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is sending staff to Juneau on August 6 to coordinate both individual assistance and public assistance applications.

Forms and guidelines for assistance will be available shortly. In the meantime, residents can refer to the guidelines from the 2023 flood for an idea of how the process works.

CBJ is also working on arranging disaster debris collection and will notify residents as soon as more information and dates are available. In the meantime, residents are asked to follow specific guidelines for materials that will be part of CBJ's flood debris collection. These include bagging all waste where possible, reducing the size of larger items, and keeping waste within property boundaries until notified by CBJ to move it to the right-of-way (ROW) for collection.

More on AkGlobe News

Residents are also reminded to keep waste separated into three categories: residential waste, household hazardous waste (HHW), and construction & demolition (C&D) waste. Private haul options are also available for those who need them.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is responding to reports of spills and odors in impacted neighborhoods. Residents who have loose or spilling fuel tanks or other hazardous spill situations should contact their Spill Prevention and Response hotline at 1-800-478-9300 or report a spill via their website at ReportSpills.alaska.gov.

Finally, as residents return to homes that were impacted by floodwaters, they are advised to exercise caution when cooking, eating, and drinking. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has shared safety tips on their website, including what to do if your freezer was covered by floodwaters.

As Juneau begins its long recovery process from this devastating flood event, officials urge residents to stay informed and reach out for assistance if needed. Together, the community can work towards rebuilding and moving forward from this natural disaster.

Filed Under: Government, City

0 Comments

Latest on AkGlobe News