CBJ GUIDE TO FLOOD PREPAREDNESS

Current Conditions:

GLOF Risk Elevated — Monitoring Ongoing

Suicide Basin is nearing levels seen before past outburst floods. If it released today, flooding on View Drive could reach homes and make roads impassable. No alert is being issued yet, but conditions are being closely monitored.

Key Action Links

How to Prepare for a Flood

  • Sign up for emergency alerts – Get texts and calls about flood risk in your area.

  • Know your risk – Check the Mendenhall River inundation maps to see if your home is in a flood-prone area.

  • Buy flood insurance – NFIP policies are affordable in Alaska but can take up to 30 days to activate.

  • Make a go bag – Pack food, water, medications, important documents, and pet supplies.

  • Know where you’ll go – Plan evacuation routes, sheltering and parking (see below), and coordinate with neighbors.

  • Protect your property – Move valuables to higher ground and use sandbags or water barriers if needed.

HESCO Barrier Project

CBJ completed the installation of HESCO Flood barriers as a near-term solution to mitigate potential widespread damage from future GLOF events.

Learn more

Emergency Shelter & Parking

Floyd Dryden has been identified as the emergency shelter location in the event of a GLOF. Parking at Floyd Dryden will be limited to shelter residents, staff, volunteers and campground users only.

Residents in the flood inundation area that are not sheltering at Floyd Dryden are invited to move vehicles (cars, ATVs, etc.) to the parking lots at St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, and Juneau Christian Center during a GLOF event.

Inundation Maps and Flood Modeling

The Mendenhall River Flood Fighting Inundation Maps show where flooding may occur during GLOFs from Suicide Basin. The maps were created using computer models with data from the National Weather Service, USGS, and other agencies to support planning emergency response and mitigation efforts.

Aerial photograph with highlighted flood zone along Mendenhall River.

What To Do During a Flood

Before the Flood

  • Monitor alerts and news

  • Charge your phone and pack your go bag

  • Move valuables off the floor

During the Flood

  • Follow evacuation orders

  • Shut off electricity if it’s safe

  • Don’t wait — water rises quickly

  • Do NOT walk or drive through flood waters

After the Flood

  • Return home only when cleared

  • Watch for mold, damage, and contamination

What is a GLOF?

This video features a lecture by two of our core partners—Dr. Eran Hood from the University of Alaska Southeast and Aaron Jacobs from the National Weather Service. Together, they explain the science behind Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), including how they form, what triggers them, and why Suicide Basin is being closely monitored. The presentation provides valuable local context and helps to explain the risks and response planning underway in Juneau.

 

Resources and Contact Info

CBJ Emergency Programs

Flood Map Viewer – Coming Soon

National Weather Service

Tlingit & Haida Emergency Services

Emergency Alerts Signup