Information

The glacial outburst flood, which took place on August 5 and 6 due to a major release from Suicide Basin, resulted in peak water levels of 15.99 feet at 3 a.m. on August 6. This exceeded the level of the August 2023 outburst (14.97 feet) by over a foot.

Damage was widespread. Preliminary damage assessments of neighborhoods estimate approximately 290 residences (including apartments and condos) were damaged by floodwaters. No casualties or injuries were reported.

CBJ will be sharing updates regarding flood response and resources on this page as available.

Please email [email protected] for ALL flood-related questions, requests and issues not covered below.

Visit the CBJ newsroom for the most recent information releases, including information on CBJ waste and debris removal assistance.

Updated January 8, 2024 (9:15 a.m.)

FEMA Disaster Assistance Application

Following the federal declaration of disaster emergency, residents can now apply for disaster assistance from FEMA.

Apply online now at DisasterAssistance.gov or through the Alaska Call Center at 1-866-342-1699. The call center is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Alaska time, Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Alaska time, Saturday.

SBA Disaster Loan Application

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for businesses and residents impacted by the disaster. No interest accrues until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. No payment is due until 12 months from the first loan disbursement.

Homeowners may be eligible for a disaster loan of up to $500,000 for primary residence repairs or rebuilding. The SBA may also be able to help homeowners and renters with up to $100,000 to replace personal property, including automobiles, damaged or destroyed in the disaster.

Applicants may apply online and can find additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster.

The deadline to apply for assistance for property damage is December 16, 2024. The deadline to apply for economic injury is July 16, 2025.

SBA representatives are available to provide one-on-one assistance at the SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center, open at the the Mendenhall Valley Public Library from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Thursday and 12 – 6 p.m. Friday. The DLOC will be open through Friday, January 3.

Read more about the program and how to apply.

State Disaster Assistance Application

The deadline for applying for State of Alaska individual assistance has now passed. To apply for assistance through FEMA, please see the information above.

The State has also shared the following information for residents with disaster damages:

Red Cross Financial Assistance

The American Red Cross is offering damage-based financial assistance for those whose primary residences (both renters and homeowners) sustained eligible damage as a result of the recent glacial outburst flooding in Juneau (More information in this handout.) Please call (907) 646-5467 to speak with a Red Cross representative.

Disaster Distress Mental Health Support

As many in the community face significant loss and mounting uncertainty, it’s more important than ever to care for your mental well-being alongside your physical needs. That might mean letting yourself take a break from cleaning or repair work, or checking in with friends or loved ones. It might also mean counseling or other forms of support.

If you’re in need of immediate help, the Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7 support to those in distress following a disaster. Through the helpline, crisis counselors listen to what’s on your mind with patience and without judgment. To be connected with a counselor, call or text 1-800-985-5990.

A special Assembly meeting was held at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6 to pass Resolution 3071 confirming the declaration of local emergency and requesting state and federal assistance.

State Disaster Declaration and Disaster Assistance:

We are grateful for the Governor’s State Disaster Declaration.  This makes additional resources and funding available to help recover from the flood disaster.  The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is sent staff to Juneau on August 6.  Their team is coordinating both individual assistance and public assistance applications.  Impacted residents can apply for Individual Assistance at ready.alaska.gov/Recovery/IA.

Federal Disaster Declaration

In September, Governor Mike Dunleavy and the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska formally requested a federal declaration of emergency from the White House via FEMA. Read the submitted documentation in full. A federal declaration authorizes funds for public assistance, individual assistance, and hazard mitigation. Alaska’s full Congressional delegation submitted a joint letter in support of the declaration.

On October 17, 2024, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. issued a federal declaration of major disaster for the 2024 flood. The declaration will now trigger the release of federal funds to help the community recover. This is the first such declaration to be made in response to a joint state-tribal request.

Federal assistance will include both Individual Assistance for impacted households and Public Assistance for infrastructure and facilities. CBJ is working with FEMA to arrange a time for representatives to travel to Juneau and meet with affected residents.  We will share more information as soon as it is available.

During a Special Assembly Meeting on Thursday, October 3, the CBJ Assembly authorized the City Manager to accept HESCO flood fighting barriers from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to begin flood fighting by constructing a temporary levee along the banks of the Mendenhall River in attempt to reduce the impacts of future flood events.   Since the August 6th flood event, CBJ has been actively engaged with industry experts and supporting governmental agencies to identify viable near-term flood mitigation measures.  Through that engagement, an engineered barrier system from HESCO was identified as the preferred alternative.  Additionally, through partnership with the USACE, CBJ will be able to commence the installation of these barriers sooner than other alternatives. CBJ will require access to riverfront properties for site review, installation, and maintenance of the HESCO barriers, which would likely be in place for several years while a permanent flood mitigation solution is determined.

On October 9-13, CBJ Engineering project managers visited riverfront property owners within the proposed Phase 1 deployment of the HESCO flood barriers, between the north end of Marion Drive, along Riverside Drive, Killewich Drive, Meander Way and Rivercourt Way. The purpose of these visits was to gather preliminary information needed to move forward with this effort; CBJ greatly appreciates the time, information and input provided from residents.  A summary of initial findings from the site visits was presented to the CBJ Assembly during the Reorganization Meeting on October 21, 2024. A summary memo is available here.

USACE Technical Experts in Juneau October 30-31

Technical experts from the US Army Corps of Engineers Flood Fighting Group (USACE) visited Juneau on October 30 and 31 to provide in-person assistance and expertise to CBJ for the continued development of the HESCO barrier Phase 1 project.  During the USACE visit, representatives, engineers and officials from both organizations visited the riverbank and yards that are within the Phase 1 area (riverbanks from North Marion Drive to downstream to Rivercourt Way) to gather more detailed information to support the effective deployment of the HESCO Barriers.

The final deployment plan for the HESCO barriers will continue to be under consideration by the Assembly. The Assembly will utilize the additional information gathered during the site visits to inform their discussions.

FAQ for Riverfront Homeowners from North Marion Drive to Rivercourt Way

At the December 16 Regular Assembly Meeting, the CBJ Assembly moved forward with a proposed ordinance to establish an LID for the HESCO barrier flood mitigation project. Several amendments were made to the ordinance, including decreasing the LID property owners’ contribution from 50% of the project cost to 40%. The amendments are available in the agenda packet under “U. Supplementary Materials.”

A copy of the FAQ mailed to all property owners in LID area is available here. This FAQ reflects the December 16 amendments.

More information about public meetings, including minutes and agendas, is available under the “Public Meetings” tag on this page. All are encouraged to join these meetings, whether remote or in person, and send comments and feedback to [email protected].

January 3 Neighborhood Meeting: LID and HESCO Barriet Project

CBJ will host a public meeting on Friday, January 3 to discuss the proposed LID and Phase 1 of the HESCO barrier flood mitigation project. The meeting will be held at the Thunder Mountain Middle School Auditorium from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. CBJ staff and representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be on hand to answer questions and hear thoughts from those in the neighborhood.

Read the latest FAQ about the project at bit.ly/LIDquestions. This updated FAQ reflects amendments made to the proposed LID ordinance on December 16.

December 16 Assembly Meeting: Local Improvement District (LID) Public Hearing

The December 16 Regular Assembly Meeting included a public hearing on the proposed ordinance to establish an LID for the HESCO barrier flood mitigation project.

The full text of the proposed ordinance, as well as related memos and documents, is available in the meeting agenda packet as item M-20. To learn more about the LID process, see the FAQ mailed to all property owners or read the full PSA.

During the meeting, the Assembly made several amendments, which are included in the agenda packet under item U. Supplementary Materials. The FAQ above reflects these amendments.

Watch a recording of the meeting at juneau-ak.municodemeetings.com/bc-assembly/page/regular-assembly-meeting-2024-26.

November 18 Assembly Meeting: Local Improvement District (LID) Proposal

The Regular Assembly Meeting on Monday, November 18 included discussion of a possible Local Improvement District (LID) for the proposed HESCO barrier flood mitigation project.

Watch a recording or read the full agenda packet at https://juneau-ak.municodemeetings.com/bc-assembly/page/regular-assembly-meeting-2024-25.

The LID is agenda item D-4: Introduction of Ordinance 2024-40 An Ordinance Creating a Local Improvement District No. 210 HESCO Barrier Project Phase 1 and Appropriating the Sum of up to $7,580,000.

November 12 & 14: USACE Public Meeting/Open House on Flood Preparation for Homeowners

CBJ and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hosted public events on November 12 and 14 to share knowledge and answer questions about flood preparations for homeowners.

On Tuesday, November 12, USACE held a public meeting which included a presentation followed by Q&A.  An electronic copy of the presentation is available HERE and a recording of the presentation and Q&A is available at https://youtu.be/Ohy0oD4uAU0 .

On Thursday, November 14, USACE held an open house from 4 – 7 p.m. to answer questions and chat one-on-one with homeowners.

The CBJ Flood Response website will be updated when similar events are scheduled in the future.

November 4 Assembly Committee of the Whole Worksession: USACE Presentation on Flood Mitigation/HESCO Barriers

The November 4 Assembly COW worksession included a presentation from the US Army Corps of Engineers on HESCO barriers and flood mitigation.

Watch a recording or read the agenda packet at https://juneau-ak.municodemeetings.com/bc-acw/page/assembly-committee-whole-24.

October 21 Assembly Reorganization Meeting: Flood Mitigation Update and Related Resolutions and Ordinances

The October 21 Assembly Reorganization Meeting included an update on flood mitigation and site preparation and several flood related resolutions and ordinances.

Watch a recording or read the agenda packet at https://juneau-ak.municodemeetings.com/bc-assembly/page/assembly-reorganization-meeting-2024-24.

October 3 Special Assembly Meeting: Flood Mitigation Emergency Ordinance

A Special Assembly Meeting took place on Thursday, October 3 at 12 p.m. via Zoom only. The Assembly received a flood mitigation update from the City Manager and took action on Emergency Ordinance 2024-34 (An Emergency Ordinance Authorizing the Manager to Execute a Cooperative Agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers for Advance Measure Assistance).

The meeting agenda and packet are available at juneau-ak.municodemeetings.com/bc-assembly/page/special-assembly-meeting-2024-23.

September 23 Special Assembly Meeting: Advocacy Update, Public Hearing on Flood Response Ordinances

The following ordinances were introduced at the regular Assembly meeting on September 16 and were up for public hearing at the special meeting on September 23.

Ordinance 2024-01(b)(M) An Ordinance Appropriating $3,000,000 to the Manager as Local Matching Funds for a United States Army Corps of Engineers Glacier Outburst Flooding General Investigation Study; Funding Provided by General Funds.

Ordinance 2024-01(b)(N) An Ordinance Appropriating $100,000 to the Manager for Expanded Inundation Maps and Hydrological Modeling of the Mendenhall River; Funding Provided by General Funds.

The meeting also included an update from the Mayor and City Manager about meetings with federal agencies to advocate for a federal declaration of disaster and flood mitigation support.

Watch a recording or read the agenda packet at https://juneau-ak.municodemeetings.com/bc-assembly/page/special-assembly-meeting-2024-22.

September 16 Regular Assembly Meeting: Flood Response Ordinances Introduced

The September 16 Regular Assembly Meeting included the introduction of several ordinances related to flood response and mitigation.

Ordinance 2024-01(b)(M): An Ordinance Appropriating $3,000,000 to the Manager as Local Matching Funds for a United States Army Corps of Engineers Glacier Outburst Flooding General Investigation Study; Funding Provided by General Funds.

Ordinance 2024-01(b)(N) An Ordinance Appropriating $100,000 to the Manager for Expanded Inundation Maps and Hydrological Modeling of the Mendenhall River; Funding Provided by General Funds.

Watch a recording of the meeting or read the agenda packet at https://juneau-ak.municodemeetings.com/bc-assembly/page/regular-assembly-meeting-2024-21.

September 9 Assembly Committee of the Whole Worksession: Flood Mitigation Update

The Assembly Committee of the Whole worksession scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, September 9 included an update on flood mitigation. Representatives from several federal agencies met with CBJ on September 6 and CBJ participants reported to the Assembly at the worksession.

Read the agenda packet or watch a recording of the meeting on https://juneau-ak.municodemeetings.com/bc-acw/page/assembly-committee-whole-16.

August 19 Assembly Meeting: Flood Response Update

The August 19 Assembly meeting included a major update on flood response from CBJ and partners, as well as heartfelt testimony from the public.

Read the agenda packet or watch a recording of the meeting at juneau-ak.municodemeetings.com/bc-assembly/page/regular-assembly-meeting-2024-20.

CBJ is interested in hearing from individuals or organizations, especially those with expertise in civil engineering or hydrology, who have ideas to prevent or mitigate future glacier lake outburst events. Please email [email protected].

CBJ, U.S. Forest Service, and Tlingit & Haida Agreement

The Forest Service and City & Borough of Juneau signed a $1 million participating agreement to search for a long-term solution providing relief to Juneau residents who reside in the flood path of the Mendenhall River. The federal funding would not be realized without staunch support from the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida). Read the full story.

Request for Mitigation Assistance from US Army Corps of Engineers

On September 19, the Governor’s Office requested USACE emergency management planning assistance, including flood-fighting resources. On September 18, Tlingit & Haida requested a USACE feasibility study to address the impacts of glacial erosion and flooding. Among other things, a feasibility study would enable CBJ and Tlingit & Haida to access critical federal resources, such as the Alaska Coastal Erosion grant, for damage prevention and protection.

Public Meetings on Mitigation

Flood mitigation is a regular topic at recent Assembly meetings and worksessions. Several ordinances have been introduced to secure funding and CBJ staff and partners have regularly reported on the status of federal advocacy efforts.

See the “Public Meetings” tab on this page for information about upcoming public meetings addressing flood mitigation, as well as links to recordings of past meetings.

Mitigation for Homeowners

FEMA has a number of resources available for homeowners exploring individual steps to protect their property from flooding. For links and information, see the “Next Steps for Impacted Homeowners” tab.

  • To check conditions at Suicide Basin, visit the National Weather Service’s monitoring page at weather.gov/ajk/SuicideBasin.
  • To see maps modeling floodwater inundation levels, visit water.noaa.gov/gauges/MNDA2 (scroll down and click “Activate MNDA2 FIM Gauge”).
  • For the latest weather information and updates, follow the National Weather Service on Facebook and X (Twitter).

  • Homeowners experiencing flood damage are encouraged to check FEMA’s informational booklet Repairing Your Flooded Home for step-by-step advice to help clean up and rebuild.
  • Residents who have experienced damage or displacement are encouraged to read through a recovery checklist of steps to take about insurance, mortgage, utilities, and more.
  • Homeowners who would like to explore individual mitigation steps for their property are encouraged to check the FEMA Mitigation for Homeowners fact sheet.
  • CBJ has received a delivery of sandbags from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and will distribute them to impacted homeowners from October 19 through October 22. Every household that was impacted by the 2024 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) is eligible to receive up to 200 sandbags free of charge. For details about where to pick up sandbags and fill, as well as other questions you may have, please see the CBJ Sandbag Distribution FAQ.
  • For general information about flood fighting and preparation, see the USACE’s Flood-Fight Handbook.
  • Click here to view the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) health and safety guidance document, Be Ready! Floods.
  • CBJ and the US Army Corps of Engineers will host public events on November 12 & 14 about flood preparation for homeowners. See the Public Meetings tab for more information.

The following is a list of local contractors that may be able to assist homeowners with reconstruction projects. If you are a contractor who would like to be added to this list, please contact [email protected].

CBJ is providing this for informational purposes only and at the request of the community. CBJ is not formally endorsing or recommending any individual private business, but greatly appreciates the support the Juneau business community continues to provide to impacted residents.

Entries in red are new additions to the list. (Last addition: 11/14)

Company Phone Email
Alaska Concrete Casting 907-780-4225 [email protected]
Alaska Renovators, Inc. 907-209-6320 [email protected]
Alpine Construction Enterprises, LLC 907-723-6473 [email protected]
B&R Construction 907-789-3669 [email protected]
Bicknell Inc. 907-789-5727 [email protected]
Building Pros, Inc. 907-312-1626 [email protected]
Bruce Griggs 907-723-7851 [email protected]
Compass Construction, LLC 907-723-6627 [email protected]
Carver Construction, LLC 907-364-3215 [email protected]
Chatham Electric 907-789-9899 [email protected]
Constellation Development 907-364-3166 [email protected]
Coogan Construction 907-780-6000 [email protected]
Dawson Construction 907-780-1500 [email protected]
Douglas Island Development, LLC 907-723-6803 [email protected]
Duran Construction Co. 907-321-6161 [email protected]
Harri Plumbing & Heating, Inc. 907-586-3190 [email protected]
Highliner Construction 907-500-7939 [email protected]
Holombo Construction LLC 907-789-5235 [email protected]
Island Contractors Inc 907-723-0183 [email protected]
JG Construction 907-500-7959 [email protected]
Luedke Construction 907-419-8170 [email protected]
Lowpete Construction Inc 907-789-5025 [email protected]
Miramontes Construction 907-780-2246 [email protected]
Operating Engineers Local 302 907-586-3850 [email protected]
Peak Construction 907-321-7792 [email protected]
Polyseal/MCGA 907-745-7325 [email protected]
Renewal by Andersen of Alaska 907-331-6894