Emergency – Page 4 – City and Borough of Juneau

CBJ Avalanche Advisory Update – 01-01-2026 (4:27 AM)

No significant new snowfall is expected until early next week. Avalanche risk remains elevated on Mount Juneau slide paths affecting the White Subdivision, Behrends Ave, and all neighborhoods below Mount Juneau. Residents should visit CBJ’s avalanche advisory page to be informed of their risk. This week’s historic storm has created conditions that may persist over an extended period, requiring continued awareness even without daily changes. Conditions can change quickly with little warning. CBJ will send alerts if conditions worsen.

Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF)’s avalanche hazard reduction work was completed this morning. Thane Road has reopened. DOT&PF reminds drivers not to stop in the avalanche zone and to use caution while travelling on Thane Road.

Moving forward CBJ will only issue alerts like these if conditions worsen or major changes are observed. The absence of an alert does not mean the hazard has diminished. You can find current hazard levels at bit.ly/CBJavalanche.

This is not an evacuation advisory. Residents should remain alert, have a go-bag ready, know their risk, and stay signed up for emergency alerts

January 1st, 2026|

CBJ Avalanche Advisory Update 12-31-2025 (8:25 AM)

City and Borough of Juneau – Avalanche Advisory Update 12-31-2025 (8:20 AM)

There is no change to avalanche hazards this morning. Avalanche conditions above Behrends Ave and Thane Rd remain elevated.

Residents near Behrends Avenue and Thane Road should remain alert and prepared. Conditions can change rapidly. This is not an evacuation advisory. Additional alerts will be issued if conditions escalate and further action is required.

This storm represents an unprecedented snowfall event for Juneau, resulting in sustained high avalanche hazard.

Thane Road remains CLOSED at the avalanche gates due to continued avalanche risk. Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) crews are actively assessing conditions and will provide another update around 12:00 PM.

CBJ Emergency Programs is monitoring conditions closely and coordinating with DOT&PF and the National Weather Service.

Additional updates will be shared as conditions change.

How to Prepare:

Have a go-bag ready
Keep phones charged and alerts enabled
Be ready to evacuate quickly if conditions worsen
Limit travel in avalanche-exposed areas
Monitor official CBJ updates at bit.ly/CBJavalanche

This is not an evacuation advisory. Additional alerts will be issued if conditions escalate and further action is required.

Learn more about CBJ Avalanche advisories, how to prepare and monitor your risk at juneau.org/newsroom-item/avalanche-readiness.

For inquiries, contact [email protected].

December 31st, 2025|

CBJ Provides Avalanche Risk and Community Readiness Update

The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) is monitoring current avalanche conditions in close coordination with qualified avalanche professionals and agency partners, including Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (Alaska DOT&PF) and National Weather Service Juneau (NWS Juneau).

The observations as of December 30, 2025 from Alaska DOT&PF are listed below. However, conditions can change quickly. Residents are encouraged to monitor their avalanche risk and sign up for emergency alerts at juneau.gov.

Current Observations (ADOT&PF):

Heavy snowfall, strong wind and warming at higher elevations has led to increased avalanche hazard. While no widespread avalanche activity has been observed, heavy snowfall is forecasted to continue over the next several days, and avalanche professionals are continuing to monitor conditions.

How do I monitor avalanche risk in my area?

Avalanche risk is a serious and ongoing concern in Juneau. Portions of our community are located beneath known avalanche paths, and conditions can change rapidly based on weather, snowpack, and terrain. Avalanches can occur naturally or be triggered by additional loading, warming, human activity or other changes, even outside of major storm cycles.

Residents can monitor the current avalanche advisory levels at bit.ly/CBJavalanche.

How do I stay up-to-date on urban avalanche conditions in Juneau?

CBJ will share updates and additional information via our juneau.gov and emergency alerts if current conditions indicate increased risk to people, homes, or critical infrastructure. Residents can sign up for emergency alerts at bit.ly/CBJAlerts. Alaska DOT&PF will provide updates at 511.alaska.gov.

Residents in or near avalanche hazard areas should remain alert to changing conditions, follow road closures and avalanche control operations, and be prepared to adjust plans quickly. If conditions escalate, CBJ will communicate via emergency alerts about protective actions and next steps.

More about CBJ avalanche advisories

In previous years, CBJ issued avalanche forecasts designed mainly for people recreating in steep terrain. Beginning this season, CBJ is focusing its communications on preparing and notifying the community about avalanche risks. Juneau residents should expect to hear from CBJ about when people should limit travel, avoid certain areas, or be prepared to leave their homes.

Similar to CBJ’s approach to Glacial Lake Outburst Flood communications, the Emergency Programs division is working in close coordination with partners who are specifically qualified to assess and forecast avalanche hazards. CBJ’s role is to integrate that expert information, communicate risk in a clear and consistent way, and help residents understand how to prepare and respond. You can find all of this information and more at juneau.org/emergency/current-advisory

For more information, contact [email protected].

December 30th, 2025|

CBJ, Tlingit & Haida, USFS Align on Enduring Solution for Glacial Lake Outburst Flooding

For Immediate Release:
December 12, 2025

CBJ, Tlingit & Haida, USFS Align on Enduring Solution for Glacial Lake Outburst Flooding

Municipal, Tribal and Federal partners committed to working with USACE on expedient solution

Juneau, Alaska – Representatives from the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ), Tlingit & Haida (T&H), and the USDA Forest Service (USFS) this week joined the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) and technical experts from relevant agencies to review and evaluate enduring flood-control alternatives for the Glacial Lake Outburst Flooding in the Mendenhall Valley. Following three days of technical analysis of the safety, feasibility, constructability, cost and timeline of the five proposed alternatives, T&H, CBJ and USFS united on their shared support for the Lake Tap alternative. All three agencies encourage USACE to move forward with this option as the focus of the Technical Report.“From the perspective of safety and protection of the community, construction timeline and impact to the area, a lake tap option quickly rose to the top as an enduring solution,” explains Denise Koch, CBJ Director of Engineering & Public Works. “We greatly appreciate the recognition of urgency by the USACE and the contributions of the dozens of technical experts convened to tackle this ongoing threat to our community on accelerated timeline.”

The five alternatives reviewed over the three-day charrette included flood-control dam(s), levees or floodwalls, Suicide Basin lake tap, relocation, and a hybrid option. Experts from USACE and their partners presented a high level of technical data and risk analysis; however, there was wide acknowledgement that future geotechnical studies would be central to the implementation of any solution. Participants also reviewed the public input provided via the 30-day public comment period in November 2025.

“Tlingit & Haida went into this week with the purpose of reviewing all options with a single priority: identify an approach that best safeguards citizens, protects cultural resources, and supports the wellbeing of the broader Juneau community,” said Tlingit & Haida Public Safety Manager Sabrina Grubritz. “The lake tap option appears to best meet those goals with the data currently available.”

Tlingit & Haida and CBJ are the community partners for this critical USACE report. As the impacted land manager, the USFS will also play important role in an enduring solution.

The purpose of the charrette was to determine the focus for the USACE technical report, which will inform the next steps in pursuing an enduring solution to the annual glacial lake outburst flooding (GLOF) events in the Mendenhall Valley. USACE plans to release the technical report in May 2026, with a public comment period to follow. While the completion of a technical report is an important step, it does not guarantee funding for a project construction. CBJ, Tlingit & Haida and USFS are committed to their joint pursuit of a completed solution as quickly as possible.

“Time is of the essence,” emphasized Koch. “It is going to take close collaboration across government agencies at all levels to get us to an enduring solution. We truly value our strong partnership with Tlingit & Haida, the U.S. Forest Service and USACE, as well as the ongoing advocacy and involvement of our residents and representatives.”

Information regarding the USACE Mendenhall Glacial Lake Outburst Flooding Technical Report is available at the project website.

Contact:
Ashley Heimbigner, [email protected]
Dixie Hutchinson, [email protected]
Paul Robbins, [email protected]

December 12th, 2025|

CBJ Signs Amended Cooperative Agreement for USACE Assistance for Phase 2 Temporary Flood Barrier Installation

The United States Army Corps of Engineers accepted the City and Borough of Juneau’s (CBJ) request for USACE Public Law 84-99 Advance Measures Assistance to provide technical assistance and temporary flood protection against the increasing future glacial lake outburst floods. USACE and CBJ signed the amended cooperative agreement at the CBJ Special Assembly Committee of the Whole Meeting on October 30.

The scope of the PL 84-99 Advance Measures Assistance to be provided to CBJ includes:

USACE will provide direct assistance by installing riverbank armoring and temporary flood barriers and other tasks necessary to construct a fortified, complete temporary flood barrier along the Phase 2 alignment for the imminent GLOF threat to the unprotected, populated riverbank areas of the Mendenhall River.
USACE will provide technical assistance for the repairs, fortification, increasing the temporary flood barrier height, bank armoring and other associated items related to the Phase 1 temporary flood barrier installation to protect against the increasing future GLOF events to continue effectively providing temporary flood protection to the Phase 1 inundation area.

The scope described will be provided at by USACE at 100% Federal cost with no cost to the Public Sponsor (CBJ) and will be completed prior to July 15, 2026.

A recording of the meeting and all presentations and materials from the October 30 meeting are available at here.

For questions, contact [email protected].

October 30th, 2025|

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