Many residents have cars or trucks that have been damaged or totaled by the flood and are now wondering what steps to take. There are a few options, depending on if you plan on filing an insurance claim for your vehicle or not.

If filing an insurance claim:

For those who have comprehensive coverage, reach out to your insurer as soon as possible. Insurance companies have their own process for disposing of vehicles that are considered a “total loss” or “totaled.”

If you’re filing an insurance claim, do not have CBJ remove your vehicle—this will negatively impact your claim.

If NOT filing an insurance claim:

CBJ will soon begin removing flood-damaged vehicles from affected owners. If you are not filing an insurance claim and you would like to have your vehicle collected, please email [email protected] to be added to the list.

Please provide the following information in your email.

Contact info:

• Name
• Address
• Phone Number

Vehicle info:

• Make and model
• Color
• Year

CBJ staff will follow up with you in the near future about arranging collection.

If you cannot wait for CBJ to remove your damaged vehicle, CBJ operates a year-round junk vehicle program to help residents dispose of junk vehicles for free. Please visit juneau.org/engineering-public-works/recycleworks/junk-cars for step-by-step instructions on this process.

Please note: All personal items and any garbage must be removed from vehicles before they can be taken away by CBJ or accepted by the junk vehicle processor. These materials can be bagged and placed in the right-of-way for collection.

As of this weekend, CBJ and the American Red Cross of Alaska have completed preliminary damage assessments of neighborhoods impacted by the August 6 Mendenhall River flooding. At the latest estimate, approximately 290 residences (including apartments and condos) were damaged by floodwaters.

Some residents are now turning to long-term planning and recovery, while others continue cleaning and mucking out. For those who are still working to clear their homes, CBJ & DOT crews continue to collect flood debris from impacted neighborhoods—including construction & demolition debris, large appliances, and hazardous waste. See the latest pick-up information here.

For complete and up-to-date flood recovery resources and information, visit juneau.org/manager/flood-response. For questions, email [email protected].

Volunteer Center Open Monday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Over 100 volunteers turned out at the Melvin Park volunteer center on Saturday, a stunning demonstration of Juneau’s readiness to come together. Unfortunately, extreme need remains. Experienced volunteer teams and partner organizations are mobilizing to lend their support, but the community still needs as many helping hands as possible.

The volunteer center will be open on Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Tuesday and Wednesday hours to follow. Stop by Melvin Park to find out how you can lend a hand. (Don’t forget your sturdy shoes and work gloves!)

Worried about working on an empty stomach? Hot meals will be available Monday through Wednesday from 12-2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m., including vegan and gluten-free options.

As of Sunday, August 11, the center is in need of dehumidifiers, respirators, and elbow-length rubber gloves. If you have equipment available to loan or donate, you can drop it off any time the center is open. If you’re making a loan, please be sure to label equipment with your name and phone number.

Follow CBJ on Facebook to see daily volunteer center hours and updates. If you’re in need of volunteer assistance, visit bit.ly/juneau-flood

Damaged Vehicles

Many residents have cars or trucks that have been damaged or totaled by the flood and are now wondering what steps to take.

For those who have comprehensive coverage, reach out to your insurer as soon as possible. You may not have had the energy in the immediate aftermath—now is the time to do it.

CBJ operates a year-round junk vehicle program to help residents dispose of junk vehicles for free. However, the number of vehicles damaged by the flood would likely overwhelm our processing partner. CBJ is currently working on a storage solution so that junk vehicles can be accepted immediately and then processed as capacity allows.

For health and safety reasons, the most urgent debris priorities are municipal solid waste, construction & demolition waste, and household hazardous waste. Once we have made further progress clearing these types of debris from flood-impacted neighborhoods, we’ll be able to turn our focus to junk vehicles.

More guidance will be shared as soon as it’s available—stay tuned.

Throughout the week, CBJ, Alaska DOT&PF and the Alaska National Guard have been picking up household garbage, furniture, and debris from neighborhoods impacted by flooding. Starting tomorrow, Sunday, August 11, crews will begin collection runs for hazardous waste. Here’s the latest information about flood debris collection:

• Construction & demolition waste: Crews are now picking up construction and demolition debris, including sheet rock, from the right-of-way (ROW). If you need help hauling debris out of your home to the ROW, sign up to be matched with volunteer support at ly/juneau-flood.
• Large appliances: Starting Saturday, August 10, crews are picking up large appliances, including refrigerators. Please set out appliances in the ROW and be sure to empty refrigerators and freezers of food. If you need help moving an appliance across the yard, please wave down crews as they approach.
• Hazardous waste: Starting Sunday, August 11 at 8 a.m., special crews will begin collecting hazardous waste. Please separate your hazardous waste from other garbage and debris and leave in the ROW so crews can take it away. Check this basic list of hazardous items—and when in doubt, put it out. (Looking for a specific item? See the complete hazardous materials list.)

If you prefer not to wait for a pick-up, check the latest information about self-haul options.

For complete and up-to-date flood recovery resources and information, visit juneau.org/manager/flood-response. For questions, email [email protected].

Clean-up and repair continues into the weekend as many residents move into the long-term recovery phase. Now may be the time to start thinking about next steps that were too overwhelming to consider in the immediate aftermath, or to begin your application for state disaster assistance.

Juneau continues to be grateful for the outpouring of support throughout the community and across the state. If you are able, please consider volunteering this weekend to help residents clean up and dry out their homes.

For complete and up-to-date resources and information, visit juneau.org/manager/flood-response. For questions, email [email protected].

Safety Tips and Next Steps for Homeowners

In the aftermath of the first days clearing out debris, you may be starting to look around your home and think about all the work still to be done. Here are some helpful resources and tips to keep in mind:

• Don’t forget to stay safe as you work on your home. Now may be the time to check FEMA’s informational booklet Repairing Your Flooded Home for safety tips and step-by-step advice as you clean up and rebuild.
• It can be hard to keep track of everything to do in the aftermath. Take a moment to look over this recovery checklist of steps you may want to take about insurance, mortgage, utilities, and more.
• And don’t forget to take photos, document damages, and keep receipts and invoices as you clean out your home and begin the hard work of rebuilding. These documents will help you make flood insurance claims and apply for disaster assistance from the State of Alaska.

Debris Update

With the help of Alaska DOT&PF and the Alaska National Guard, crews will be working around the clock to collect garbage and flood debris from impacted neighborhoods. We appreciate the additional DOT drivers and operators mobilized from across the state—and as well as your understanding as trucks come through late at night on pick-up runs.

For more info about how to get rid of flood debris, visit juneau.org/manager/flood-response and click “Clean Up & Debris Removal”.

Volunteer Center Open This Weekend

The United Way Melvin Park volunteer center will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

We continue to receive a high volume of requests for assistance, especially as rain moves in and impacted residents hurry to get their homes clean and dry. All volunteers are eagerly welcomed—stop by the center this weekend if you have a few hours free to help out, or fill out the form online.

If you are in need of volunteer assistance, please reach out at bit.ly/juneau-flood to be matched with support.

Red Cross in Juneau

Red Cross volunteers are on the ground in Juneau assisting with damage assessment and mobilizing to help residents in need. Anyone needing assistance from the Red Cross should call 1-800-RED-CROSS to speak with a dispatcher or visit the Juneau Red Cross office at 5636 Glacier Highway.

State Individual Assistance Applications Open

Residents impacted by the flood can now apply for Individual Assistance and Temporary Housing support from the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Apply now through October 9 at ready.alaska.gov/Recovery/IA or call 1-844-445-7131 (Monday – Friday 8 a.m – 4 p.m.).

DHS&EM is working to open a Disaster Assistance Center in Juneau to answer questions and help impacted residents apply for Individual Assistance—stay tuned for more information about hours and location.

As Juneau wraps up the third day of clean-up following the August 6 Mendenhall River flooding, resources continue to pour in. Many throughout the community and the state have stepped up to help those in need. We are intensely grateful for the support from state agencies, the Coast Guard, the National Guard, nonprofits, local and regional businesses, and individual Juneauites who have lent a hand in ways big and small.

Need is still great. Many residents are now beginning to understand the scale of the damage they face. Those with time and resources to volunteer are encouraged to read on to find out more about how they can help.

Volunteers Needed

In the past two days, we have seen a major increase in requests from residents affected by flooding for help pulling insulation, soaked carpets, and debris out of homes. Volunteer workers are also in need of tools, equipment, and cleaning supplies.

Throughout the weekend, United Way of Southeast Alaska is running a walk-in volunteer center in Melvin Park (4098 Riverside Drive) where volunteers can be matched with a resident in need or join general clean-up work. The volunteer center will be open Friday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Many homes need significant construction and demolition work to deal with damage. Volunteers comfortable doing labor-intensive tasks or demolition are especially in demand—though all are welcome and can be put to work.

Volunteer PPE:

• Please bring sturdy shoes or boots and work gloves
• Any additional PPE you may need, such as safety goggles or masks, should also be brought along

Equipment and Tools:

• If you have box fans, dehumidifiers, or any other tools you are willing to lend or donate, please bring them to the volunteer center
• Cleaning supplies are also greatly needed and can be dropped off along with tools
• If lending equipment, please clearly label it with your name and phone number

Hosting the Volunteer Center:

• United Way needs volunteers to help run the volunteer center at Melvin Park. This is not a physical job but involves operations and logistics, such as coordinating where people go and managing tasks.
• If you are interested in helping with the volunteer center, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Ryan O’Shaughnessy at (907) 209-5069

If you are in need of help, please fill out the form at bit.ly/juneau-flood. Volunteers will be dispatched to all homes/residents who sign up through this form. It may take some time because of the high number of people in need, but all who sign up will be connected with help.

For questions about the volunteer center, please contact Ryan O’Shaughnessy at (907) 209- 5069.

Debris Removal Continues

CBJ is working with the State of Alaska to collect disaster debris from neighborhoods impacted by flooding. DOT&PF and Alaska National Guard crews are currently out in the field picking up household garbage, furniture, and other non-hazardous waste.

Please help the crews work quickly by separating hazardous waste from the garbage pile. Hazardous items include cleaning chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, fuel, propane tanks, electronic waste/anything with a battery or cord (except freezers, refrigerators, and AC units).

CBJ is in the process of organizing a separate hazardous waste collection. Alternatively, you can dispose of hazardous waste for free at CBJ’s RecycleWorks facility. Visit juneaurecycling.com for more information about household hazardous waste.

Please remember to document and photograph damaged items before putting them out for disposal. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to ensure you’re collecting the right documentation. Visit juneau.org/newsroom-item/flood-insurance-faq for more information on flood insurance claims.

Refrigerators/Freezers: Please empty all food from refrigerators and freezers before putting them out for collection.

Self-Haul Ongoing—Long Lines at Landfill

If you don’t want to wait on the crews to get to your neighborhood, residents can also choose to self-haul flood waste to the Capitol Disposal landfill, owned and operated by Waste Management (WM). WM has extended landfill hours for residents dropping off flood waste. The following hours are effective from Thursday, August 8 until further notice:

• Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Saturday: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Sunday: Closed

Don’t forget to fill out the non-asbestos certification form before arriving at the landfill.

Please note: Lines are long due to the high number of residents affected by the flood. Out of consideration for your neighbors, please do not visit the landfill at this time unless you are disposing of flood debris.

Trees/Brush: Please bring brush, stumps and trees to the “stump dump” and not the landfill or Juneau Composts. Contact Alaska Juneau Construction at [email protected] or (907) 789-7199 or for disposal information. Visit juneaucomposts.com for more information on what materials they may accept.

Reimbursement: This is a reimbursable expense from Alaska DHS&EM for up to $1,500 if your application for Individual Assistance (IA) is approved by the State. Residents will need to provide receipts of payment for reimbursement and apply online or via the hotline at 1-844-445-7131 to utilize IA funding. Visit ready.alaska.gov/Recovery/IA to learn more about the process or start your application.

Emergency Bank Stabilization

CBJ has authorized emergency bank stabilization on the Mendenhall River to address immediate threats to property and safety. Property owners may proceed with bank stabilization that is necessary to make their property safe.

Making the property safe means action to protect property and structures from further damage from the flood. For example, property owners may immediately repair damage to existing bank stabilization, or place new bank stabilization.

Make sure to apply for the necessary permits within one month of starting the work. The window for emergency bank stabilization, which allows work to occur before obtaining a permit, is limited and will close within a few months.

Find out what you need to know about permitting and emergency bank stabilization here: Mendenhall River Emergency Bank Stabilization – How to Make Your Property Safe.