Emergency – Page 4 – City and Borough of Juneau

Phase 1 HESCO Reconstruction and Repairs Now Complete

The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) Engineering & Public Works department is pleased to share that the work on the Phase 1 HESCO Reconstruction and Repair project was completed this week.

The Phase 1 HESCO reconstruction project utilized documented damage reports and river behavior from the 2025 glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), along with the latest available hydrologic and hydraulic modeling to identify where the original barriers installed in 2025 needed to be repaired, replaced, reinforced and raised before a 2026 GLOF. The completed project, which includes additional bank armoring, is designed to protect Mendenhall Valley residents from future floods up to 63,500 cubic feet per second (CFS) or approximately an 18-foot lake stage flood.

The 2026 project work mobilized in March of this year with a slow start due to the late snow and cold spring. However, the project finished on time and is anticipated to come in under the $14.8 million project budget. A map showing planned reinforcements and raising of Phase 1 is available at  bit.ly/cbjglof.

CBJ staff and contractors will continue to work in the area finishing final project cleanup, double checking drainage improvements and inspecting and monitoring the barriers over the coming weeks. There are currently several gaps in the barriers for pedestrian access. CBJ will begin to close the access gaps during the week of July 20.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

July 10th, 2026|

USACE and CBJ to Host Multiagency Community Flood Preparedness Event

Residents of Juneau are invited to participate in a flood preparedness event on Saturday, July 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Dimond Park in preparation of the 2026 glacial lake outburst flooding season. The event is hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District and the City and Borough of Juneau.

During the event, residents can learn about flood preparation like sandbag filling and placement, pumping and other general flood risk reduction measures. Information will be available on the CBJ pump plan, evacuation mapping, reducing flood risk to homes and recommendations on what to do before and during the GLOF event.

Furthermore, community members can pick up filled or unfilled sandbags for personal use on both July 11 and July 12, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Residents may load and haul as many sandbags as they need. Volunteers to fill and deploy sandbags for the community are greatly appreciated as well.

Members from the U.S. Coast Guard, Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes, U.S. Forest Service, National Weather Service, Alaska Department of Transportation, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the American Red Cross will be in attendance for informational purposes.

Currently, USACE is leveraging its expertise and authorities to deliver flood risk reduction, that builds on the immediate actions already taken, to provide additional protection this year.

July 8th, 2026|

Residents Invited to Take CBJ Emergency Operations Plan Survey

Share your experience during past city emergencies through the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) Emergency Operations Plan Survey by Friday, July 3 at 11:59 p.m. Feedback collected will inform the update to CBJ’s 2016 Emergency Operations Plan.

An Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) defines roles and responsibilities in a disaster to effectively coordinate critical response operations. The update of the CBJ EOP will include significant updates to better reflect the local risk environment and needed response actions. This survey, administered by Fairweather Science, seeks to better understand how emergencies affect CBJ residents, how CBJ’s emergency response efforts have worked, where improvements are needed, and how to better serve residents moving forward.

Only one response per person is permitted. All responses will remain confidential and reported to CBJ in summary form.

For more information about the Emergency Operations Plan update process, contact Mason Page at [email protected]. For more information about CBJ Emergency Management, contact Ryan O’Shaughnessy at [email protected].

June 11th, 2026|

Residents Invited to June 9 Open House on 2026 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood

Juneau residents impacted by the glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) are invited to attend an open house on Tuesday, June 9 in the Thunder Mountain Middle School common area. The City and Borough of Juneau, along with Tlingit & Haida, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Weather Service, and other emergency partners will be available to answer questions and provide resources ahead of the 2026 GLOF.

Get your questions answered, sign-up to volunteer, and learn about upcoming sandbag distribution activities before the flood. All residents impacted by annual flood events are encouraged to attend. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the meeting will begin at 6 p.m.

For more information about 2026 GLOF preparedness efforts, email [email protected].

June 1st, 2026|

GLOF Mitigation Updates, Eaglecrest Gondola, and Disposal of City Hall on Agenda for May 4 Committee of the Whole Meeting

The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) Assembly will get a detailed technical update on near-term GLOF mitigation efforts, including flood modeling and Phase 1 and 2 HESCO flood barrier construction, followed by a discussion on project funding the Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, May 4. Also included on the agenda are discussions of the future paths for both the Gondola project and the existing City Hall building.

The Assembly moved to terminate the revenue sharing agreement with Goldbelt for the gondola project, however, additional discussion regarding next steps is needed. Identified options include termination of the project (sell all parts and equipment), or to seek potential investors to take over the project.

The Assembly will also discuss an ordinance authorizing the City Manager to sell the current City Hall (155 Heritage Way). Possible methods of disposal range from sealed competitive bid to authorizing negotiations with an interested party.

While Assembly Committee Meetings do not include public testimony, residents are encouraged to share their input by emailing the assembly at [email protected] or by testifying at an upcoming Regular Assembly Meeting on May 18.

Join in person in assembly chambers or online at juneau.zoom.us/j/95424544691. Meeting materials can be viewed at juneauak.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4843/overview.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

May 4th, 2026|