Mendenhall River flooding update: information for residents and homeowners
In the early morning hours of August 6, the Mendenhall River crested at 15.99 feet, causing unprecedented flooding in the Mendenhall Valley. Although fortunately there were no injuries or fatalities, damage was widespread. Over 100 homes have been damaged or impacted by floodwaters.
The community is now facing a long recovery. Read on for more information about first steps to take as you begin the recovery process.
For all the latest information and resources, visit CBJ’s dedicated flood response webpage at juneau.org/manager/flood-response.
Shelter
CBJ opened an emergency shelter at Floyd Dryden Middle School on August 5 and was able to offer shelter to several dozen residents who evacuated their homes.
As of Tuesday, August 6, all residents who sought emergency shelter have departed for other accommodation. However, staff are on standby should sheltering needs arise. If you need emergency sheltering due to the flood event, please reach out to floodresponse@juneau.gov.
Residents who need assistance with long-term sheltering should also contact floodresponse@juneau.gov. We will do our best to connect you with available resources.
Building Safety and Damage Assessment
Impacted homeowners who would like to talk to a CBJ building inspector and ask questions about their individual situation are welcome to reach out to floodresponse@juneau.gov.
The Red Cross will provide assistance in the coming weeks to help with formal damage assessment documentation—stay tuned for more information.
In the interim, FEMA has provided a number of practical recommendations and safety precautions for residents returning home after a flood. Download the PDF here.
State Disaster Assistance
Thanks to the Governor’s declaration of disaster emergency, additional resources and funding are available to help residents and homeowners recover from the flood. The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is sending staff to Juneau on August 6. They will be able to coordinate both individual assistance and public assistance applications. Stay tuned for more information.
Forms and guidelines will be available shortly. In the meantime, take a look at the guidelines from the 2023 flood to get an idea of how the process works:
- 2023 Individual Assistance fact sheet
- 2023 Infographic: Have disaster damages? Take these steps.
- 2023 Infographic: State of Alaska Individual Assistance process
Debris and Waste Removal
CBJ staff are working to arrange disaster debris collection and will notify residents as soon as we have more information and dates.
In the meantime, please follow the guidelines below for materials that will be part of CBJ’s flood debris collection. Your help will make an invaluable difference as we clean up the community.
- Bag all waste (where possible)
- Reduce the size of larger items (where possible)
- Keep all waste within your property boundaries until notified by CBJ to move it to the right-of-way (ROW) for collection.
- Keep waste separated into the following three categories (see handout)
- Residential Waste
- Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
- Construction & Demolition (C&D) Waste
Some private haul options are also available—see CBJ’s recent waste PSA for more information.
Oil/Hazardous Substance Spills
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation spill responders are on the ground in Juneau responding to reports of spills and odors in the impacted neighborhoods. Residents who have loose or spilling fuel tanks and/or other hazardous spill situations should contact the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Spill Prevention and Response hotline at 1-800-478-9300, or report a spill via their website at ReportSpills.alaska.gov.
Food Safety
If you are returning to a home that was impacted by floodwaters, you may need to exercise extra caution cooking, eating, and drinking in your home. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has shared several safety tips—including what to do if your freezer was covered by floodwaters.