Mendenhall River flooding update: Red Cross office open now, State assistance centers open Wednesday

New support is available on the ground for those affected by the August 6 Mendenhall River flood. The Red Cross has opened disaster assistance intake at their Lemon Creek office (5636 Glacier Highway) and the State of Alaska will open two in-person Disaster Assistance Centers beginning Wednesday. Read on for more information about these and other available resources.

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

State Disaster Assistance Center Opens Wednesday

The State of Alaska will open two Disaster Assistance Centers in Juneau from August 14-16 to assist residents impacted by the flood who may be eligible for Individual Assistance. At the centers, residents can ask questions about how IA works, provide documentation, or fill out an application.

Centers will be open at two locations:

• Mendenhall Valley Library, 3025 Dimond Park Loop
• Generations Southeast Community Learning Center, 3239 Hospital Drive

Both centers will be open Wednesday, August 14 to Friday, August 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

If you can’t make it during these times, assistance is available after hours by appointment—call (907) 632-2165.

To make everything go as quickly and easily as possible, please bring the following information with you when you visit the center:

• Description of damages and/or losses
• Home ownership documentation
• Insurance information
• Personal ID
• Proof of occupancy (for example, a utility bill)

Representatives from CBJ, Tlingit & Haida, American Red Cross of Alaska, and other agencies will also be on hand to provide assistance.

The State’s Individual Assistance program is designed to help homeowners and renters who have experienced damage to their primary residence or primary means of transportation. The current maximum grant available to an individual or family is $21,250 for housing repair and an additional $21,250 for personal property damages per disaster when other resources are not adequate (including insurance and Small Business Association or other loans). Learn more about IA from this fact sheet.

Red Cross Financial Assistance Available—Office Open Now

The American Red Cross is offering damage-based financial assistance for those whose primary residences sustained eligible damage as a result of the recent glacial outburst flooding in Juneau.

The Red Cross office is located at 5636 Glacier Highway, Suite 101. Red Cross recovery workers will be available at the following times:

Monday, August 12:                2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 13:                10 a.m. – 2 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, August 14:          10 a.m. – 2 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

From August 14-16, Red Cross representatives will also be available at State of Alaska Disaster Assistance Centers (see above).

Assistance is available to both renters and homeowners—if you have been flooded out, you are encouraged to visit the Red Cross office and speak to a recovery worker. To keep from making multiple trips, please bring proof of identity and residence.

Schools Supplies Available Tuesday at Kax̲dig̲oowu Héen Elementary

Alaska State Employees Association/AFSCME Local 52 will distribute free school supplies for impacted students tomorrow, Tuesday, August 13 at Kax̲dig̲oowu Héen Elementary (Riverbend Elementary). Doors will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Supplies have been divided and bagged by age group (elementary school, middle school, and high school). At this time, 35 bags in each group are available—we appreciate your consideration and mindfulness for the needs of all.

Hot Showers at Dimond Park

The Dimond Park Aquatic Center locker room is open to those in need of a hot shower. Just show your ID with street address for access during open hours.

DPAC is generally open Monday – Friday 5:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Check the full schedule here, and be aware that the building will be closed for maintenance on Wednesday, August 14 from 1 – 4 p.m.

Sign Up for Flood-Damaged Vehicle Disposal

CBJ will soon begin removing and disposing of flood-damaged vehicles by owner request. If you’re not filing an insurance claim, you can sign up to have your vehicle collected from your residence or street. Read CBJ’s flood-damaged vehicle guidance to find out how to sign up and prepare your vehicle for removal.

Please note that if you are filing an insurance claim, do not have CBJ remove your vehicle—this will negatively impact your claim.

If you can’t wait for your vehicle to be collected, you’re welcome to dispose of it for free through CBJ’s junk vehicle program. Visit juneau.org/engineering-public-works/recycleworks/junk-cars for step-by-step instructions.

New Community Resources Available

A number of local businesses have offered to assist or prioritize flooded residents with services including oil tank dipping, heating system replacement, and computer and data recovery. Find these resources at juneau.org/manager/flood-response under “Local Contractors & Building Resources.”

You’ll also find a list of local contractors who may be available to assist homeowners with repair and reconstruction projects. This list was generously provided by the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce—CBJ does not endorse or recommend any individual private business, but we greatly appreciate the support the Juneau business community continues to provide to impacted residents.

If you would like to be added to the list, please email [email protected].

Beware of Scams

Please be aware of an active scam email that appears to come from a CBJ board, commission or department and claims that the recipient owes payment or fees to CBJ. If the sender’s email does not end in @juneau.gov, this is a scam. If you are at all unsure or have questions, please contact [email protected].

Scammers often take advantage of the emotional situations following disasters. If you receive an unexpected request for payment or invoice from any agency, business or individual, please proceed with caution as it may be a scam. If you are unsure, contact [email protected].