Mendenhall River flooding update: information for residents and homeowners

In the early morning hours of August 6, the Mendenhall River crested at 15.99 feet, causing unprecedented flooding in the Mendenhall Valley. Although fortunately there were no injuries or fatalities, damage was widespread. Over 100 homes have been damaged or impacted by floodwaters.

The community is now facing a long recovery. Read on for more information about first steps to take as you begin the recovery process.

For all the latest information and resources, visit CBJ’s dedicated flood response webpage at juneau.org/manager/flood-response.

Shelter

CBJ opened an emergency shelter at Floyd Dryden Middle School on August 5 and was able to offer shelter to several dozen residents who evacuated their homes.

As of Tuesday, August 6, all residents who sought emergency shelter have departed for other accommodation. However, staff are on standby should sheltering needs arise. If you need emergency sheltering due to the flood event, please reach out to [email protected].

Residents who need assistance with long-term sheltering should also contact [email protected]. We will do our best to connect you with available resources.

Building Safety and Damage Assessment

Impacted homeowners who would like to talk to a CBJ building inspector and ask questions about their individual situation are welcome to reach out to [email protected].

The Red Cross will provide assistance in the coming weeks to help with formal damage assessment documentation—stay tuned for more information.

In the interim, FEMA has provided a number of practical recommendations and safety precautions for residents returning home after a flood.  Download the PDF here.

State Disaster Assistance

Thanks to the Governor’s declaration of disaster emergency, additional resources and funding are available to help residents and homeowners recover from the flood. The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is sending staff to Juneau on August 6.  They will be able to coordinate both individual assistance and public assistance applications.  Stay tuned for more information.

Forms and guidelines will be available shortly. In the meantime, take a look at the guidelines from the 2023 flood to get an idea of how the process works:

• 2023 Individual Assistance fact sheet
• 2023 Infographic: Have disaster damages? Take these steps.
• 2023 Infographic: State of Alaska Individual Assistance process

Debris and Waste Removal

CBJ staff are working to arrange disaster debris collection and will notify residents as soon as we have more information and dates.

In the meantime, please follow the guidelines below for materials that will be part of CBJ’s flood debris collection. Your help will make an invaluable difference as we clean up the community.

• Bag all waste (where possible)
• Reduce the size of larger items (where possible)
• Keep all waste within your property boundaries until notified by CBJ to move it to the right-of-way (ROW) for collection.
• Keep waste separated into the following three categories (see handout)
  • Residential Waste
  • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
  • Construction & Demolition (C&D) Waste

Some private haul options are also available—see CBJ’s recent waste PSA for more information.

Oil/Hazardous Substance Spills

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation spill responders are on the ground in Juneau responding to reports of spills and odors in the impacted neighborhoods. Residents who have loose or spilling fuel tanks and/or other hazardous spill situations should contact the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Spill Prevention and Response hotline at 1-800-478-9300, or report a spill via their website at ReportSpills.alaska.gov.

Food Safety

If you are returning to a home that was impacted by floodwaters, you may need to exercise extra caution cooking, eating, and drinking in your home. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has shared several safety tips—including what to do if your freezer was covered by floodwaters.

Flood Insurance

The CBJ Community Development has prepared a flood insurance FAQ answering questions like how to start a flood insurance claim and how FEMA flood insurance works. If you’re not sure whether your home insurance covers flood damage or where to find more information, start with this FAQ.

If you’re ready to start a federal flood insurance claim, visit FEMA’s webpage Starting Your Recovery After a Flood.

Recovery Checklist

As you navigate through the recovery phase, there are several things to keep in mind—like insurance, mortgage, and damage documentation—that can help make your next steps much easier. CBJ has prepared a checklist that may be useful for your recovery. Although it may seem arduous now, the sooner you are able to take any of these steps the more help they will be.

Volunteer Coordination

A whole-hearted thank you to all community members who have generously offered to assist with recovery. CBJ is partnering with United Way for volunteer coordination. If you have time or resources and are wishing to volunteer to help your neighbors in the community, please fill out the form at bit.ly/juneau-flood.

If you are in need of support, please fill out the same form with information about your needs.

Questions and More Information

For all questions about the flood, including information about response efforts and resources for impacted residents, please contact [email protected]. Contacting this email delivers your question directly to the CBJ flood response team and allows them to quickly get you the right information.

For those without access to email, please call the City Manager’s Office at (907) 586-5240.