CBJ GUIDE TO FLOOD PREPAREDNESS
Current Conditions:
No Flooding Expected – Stay Informed and Monitor Conditions
Based on current data, the risk to life and property from a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) remains low at this time. Monitoring will continue throughout the season.
Latest Updates and Alerts
Flood Emergency Partners Distribute Sandbags Through July - July 22, 2026
Final Flood Barrier Openings Being Closed This Week - July 21, 2026
Hotline for Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Now Taking Calls - July 21, 2026
July 20 Special Committee of the Whole Worksession Cancelled - July 17, 2026
Come to Emergency Preparedness Workshop and Resource Fair on July 19 - July 15, 2026
How to Prepare for a Flood
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Sign up for emergency alerts – Get texts and calls about flood risk in your area.
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Know your risk – Check the Mendenhall River inundation maps to see if your home is in a flood-prone area.
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Buy flood insurance – NFIP policies are affordable in Alaska but can take up to 30 days to activate.
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Make a go bag – Pack food, water, medications, important documents, and pet supplies.
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Know where you’ll go – Plan evacuation routes, sheltering and parking (see below), and coordinate with neighbors.
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Protect your property – Move valuables to higher ground and use sandbags or water barriers if needed. Elevate, secure or safely dispose of household hazardous materials and use your main breaker to shut off power.
Ready, Set, Go Guide
The ready, set, go structure is a guideline that many states are adopting and that CBJ is excited to continue using. This guide helps streamline information for residents to know their current risk as an event is occurring or as the risk reduces after an incident.
Community Resources
Emergency Shelter
Floyd Dryden Gymnasium (3800 Mendenhall Loop Rd) has been identified as the emergency evacuation shelter location in the event of a flood warning and evacuation notice.
The American Red Cross will operate the shelter. Check out these tips for how to prepare for an emergency in the video below
Capital Transit will assist with the transportation of evacuees from Riverview Senior Living and Trillium Landing to Red Cross Shelters as well as overflow shuttling from Floyd Dryden to contingency shelter locations if the primary shelter capacity is exceeded.
Evacuation Routes
To avoid congestion and road or bridge closures, please follow the evacuation routes below.
- Residents north of Division Street, please travel north on Riverside Drive, toward Mendenhall (Back) Loop Road and out of the inundation area.
- Residents south of Division Street, travel south on Riverside Drive, turn left on Stephen Richards Memorial Drive, towards Mendenhall Loop Road.
- On Rivercourt Way, travel south on Riverside Drive, toward Egan Drive
- On the west side of the Mendenhall River, travel west on Mendenhall (Back) Loop Road toward Auke Bay (avoid Back Loop Bridge).
- West of Brotherhood Bridge, travel west on Glacier Highway toward Auke Bay
Route Maps
Pump Staging Map
Click the button below to view all pump and sump locations for the 2026 GLOF, updated on 7/7/2026.
Vehicle Parking
Residents in the flood inundation area that (are not sheltering at Floyd Dryden) are invited to move vehicles (cars, ATVs, etc.) to the following parking lots once the Basin is full and evacuation preparedness alert is sent out:
- St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church
- 4207 Mendenhall Loop Road
- Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church
- 8198 Keegan Street
- Christ Lutheran Church
- 10300 Glacier Hwy
- Juneau Christian Center
- 8001 Glacier Hwy
Please register your vehicles early using the form below.
Evacuating with Pets
The Red Cross will have limited space to shelter pets at the Floyd Dryden emergency shelter. Please read the full requirements and recommendations here. Juneau Animal Rescue (JAR) offers emergency sheltering for pets through their Safe-Keeping Program (PDF).
JAR and KTOO have created resources to help pet owners prepare for emergencies and evacuation. Click the button below to watch the video or download JAR’s Emergency Pet Planning brochure.
State Road Closures and Drone Monitoring
Read more about Alaska Department of Transportation’s role during GLOF events, road closures, and how they support active response at dot.alaska.gov/sereg/juneau-glof/index.shtml.
River Cams
Remember: when waters start to rise, stay away from the river and flooded areas for the safety of yourself and others.
Alerts: What to Expect
Residents can expect to receive important notifications about the status of a flood emergency at several points:
National Weather Service determines the Basin is full:
- CBJ and our partners will issue evacuation advisories via SMS text (push notification, no opt-in requirement). Alerts will also go out via email, social media, website and printed door hangars.
- Historically, there has been 1-6 days between when the Basin reaches full capacity and its release. However, it is possible for the Basin to release before it reaches full capacity.
Basin begins to release:
- A FLOOD WARNING will be issued by the National Weather Service.
- CBJ, Tlingit & Haida and partner agencies will push out evacuation advisories through all available channels.
- First responders will provide in-person evacuation notice in neighborhoods in the potential flood inundation area.
- It is possible for the Basin to release before it reaches full capacity. In that case, this would be the first alert distribution.
Water recedes, area deemed safe to return:
- CBJ and our partners will issue an “All Clear” notification via SMS text, email and social media.
- Availability of response and recovery services will be share via CBJ & partner agency social media and website(s).
Volunteer/Ask For Help
The United Way of Southeast Alaska is coordinating volunteer efforts and offers of help. Please use the sign-up form to request help or participate in volunteer efforts by clicking the button below. You can also call United Way offices directly at (907) 463-5533.
Flood Information Hotline
The CBJ Flood Information Hotline is now available during weekdays. Residents can call the hotline with non-emergency questions and concerns related to the 2026 GLOF, including basin status updates, recommended evacuation actions, and more.
2026 Flood Information Hotline – (907) 500-0890
The hotline will be staffed starting on Tuesday, July 21 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Once Suicide Basin has filled, the hotline will extend operating hours to include Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Once release has begun – and a wireless emergency alert text message goes out – the hotline will move to 24/7 operations through the event.
Residents can also email their questions and concerns to [email protected].
What To Do During a Flood
Before the Flood
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Monitor alerts and news
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Charge your phone and pack your go bag
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Move valuables off the floor & take action to prevent spills
During the Flood
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Follow evacuation orders
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Shut off electricity if it’s safe
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Don’t wait — water rises quickly
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Do NOT walk or drive through flood waters
After the Flood
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Return home only when cleared
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Watch for mold, damage, and contamination
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Visit bit.ly/JuneauFloodRecovery for clean-up and recovery resources
Flood Mitigation
HESCO Barriers and Short-Term Solutions
CBJ has completed installation of HESCO flood barriers, a short-term measure to reduce the risk of widespread damage from future glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
Learn more about the Phase 1 and Phase 2 barrier projects, along with the stormwater management efforts underway to protect the community from future flood events.
