Evacuation Call for Juneau Residents as Mendenhall Glacier Flood Threat Looms
People living in certain parts of Juneau are readying themselves for possible evacuation. The reason? A potential record-breaking flood surge caused by the release of rainwater and snowmelt from a vast basin blocked by the Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska. The water is now moving downstream towards the city.
Flood Warnings Issued
In the past few days, officials have alerted those living in the flood-prone areas to prepare for evacuation. They confirmed that water has begun to leak from the ice dam and expected flooding to continue until later in the week. They urged those in the city's flood-prone areas to move to safety.
A couple residing in the area has been persuading their neighbors to evacuate. However, they themselves intend to stay back after ensuring their children were safe outside the flood zone. The couple's three daughters, aged 8, 10, and 11, were sent to a safer location at a friend's house on higher ground.
The Mendenhall Glacier and Its Surroundings
The Mendenhall Glacier, which is about 12 miles from Juneau, a city of 30,000 people, draws tourists due to its closeness to the capital city and easy trail access. Several homes on the city's edges are just miles away from Mendenhall Lake, which lies beneath the glacier, and many houses face the Mendenhall River.
The water released during the glacial outburst is entering the river, putting the riverfront houses in danger. It was predicted that the flooding would peak in the late afternoon of the following day.
Annual Flood Concerns
Since 2011, basin flooding has become a recurring issue. In the past few years, it has caused considerable damage, destroying houses and inundating hundreds of homes. This year, temporary barriers were set up by government agencies in the hope of preventing widespread damage to the several hundred homes in the flood area.
Every spring and summer, the basin fills up with rainwater and snowmelt, a situation exacerbated by the retreat of a smaller glacier near the Mendenhall Glacier. This is a result of climate change. When the water pressure becomes too high, it finds its way under or around the ice dam formed by the Mendenhall Glacier and enters Mendenhall Lake and eventually the Mendenhall River.
Preparations and Precautions
In response to the concerns of property owners, city officials collaborated with state, federal, and tribal entities this year to install a temporary levee along approximately 2.5 miles of riverbank to protect against extensive flooding. These barriers are intended to protect more than 460 properties.
However, residents fear that if the water level rises higher than expected or manages to seep through, the flooding at their homes could worsen. Some residents, like one family who raised their house by about 3-4 feet after floodwaters reached their floorboards a few years ago, are worried and prepared to move valuables upstairs.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has initiated a lengthy process of studying the region's conditions and considering options for a more permanent solution, such as a levee. This timeline has frustrated some residents, who find it unreasonable.
According to researchers, as long as the Mendenhall Glacier continues to act as an ice dam and block the basin, outburst floods could continue for another 25 to 60 years.