No damage to 90% of homes in flood zone after record Suicide Basin release, CBJ says
- Mark Sabbatini
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Six homes sustain serious damage, 41 lesser levels of damage, according to preliminary assessment
By Mark Sabbatini and Natalie Buttner
Juneau Independent
About 90% of homes in the flood zone had no damage and only six of 846 residences were seriously damaged by this week’s record glacial lake outburst flood, according to a preliminary assessment presented Friday by city officials.
Of those six homes, only one was in a neighborhood protected by HESCO barriers installed this year, while the other five were unprotected homes along View Drive, said Ryan O'Shaughnessy, emergency programs manager for the City and Borough of Juneau during a press briefing Friday morning.
"It's clear that the HESCO barrier project has saved hundreds of homes from receiving that damage classification," he said. "We’re optimistic about continuing to improve or restore the HESCOs, improve the HESCOs, and continuing to try to mitigate this hazard for our community."
The release from Suicide Basin on Monday afternoon resulted in the Mendenhall River cresting at a record 16.65 feet on Wednesday morning. That was 0.66 feet higher than last year’s record-breaking flood that damaged nearly 300 homes.
A video shows the buildup and release from Suicide Basin in the glacial lake outburst flood that occurred Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (U.S. Geological Survey)
The two-and-a-half-mile HESCO levee was built earlier this year using barriers provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The 466 property owners in the flood zone were asked to pay nearly $6,300 each to cover 40% of the city’s installation and maintenance costs. The barriers are intended to protect homes from river levels up to 18 feet.
At 16.65 feet, river water backed up street drains and seeped through HESCO barriers, flooding some neighborhoods.
A tree strike also tore a hole in barriers near the Dimond Park Field House, according to Christopher Goins, Southcoast Region director for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.
A range of short- and long-term cleanup, repair and assessment projects lie ahead for a multitude of agencies as well as local residents.
In addition to the seriously damaged homes — defined as the water level reaching electrical outlets on the ground floor — 25 homes suffered "minor damage" to living spaces in homes, and 16 "affected damage" such as water driveways and basement crawl spaces, O'Shaughnessy said. The status of 46 homes is unverified as of Friday.
Neighborhood cleanups will involve the removal of debris and materials contaminated with hazardous substances carried by floodwaters.
According to a CBJ announcement, crews will be doing their first round of debris collection from View Drive, Marion Drive, Meander Way and Meadow Lane starting Monday. The announcement advises people in these flood-affected areas put their debris to the right of way sorted into three piles: large appliances, household hazardous waste and other waste.
Raymond Paddock and Cer Scott went door-to-door along View Drive on Friday, assessing where contamination and waste were generated by the flood.
“We're on the environmental aspect of things,” Paddock said. "So anything where there's contamination, waste stuff put out, we're getting that situated.”
According to Paddock, environmental director at the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, this early assessment will prepare the neighborhood for debris pickups beginning Monday, and allow collection crews to be ready for any hazardous waste.
“We want to see at least if there's oil tanks, refrigerators, freezers, paint solvents, cans, gas tanks, things of that nature,” Paddock said.
Scott, Tlingit and Haida’s environmental coordinator, said that many people they have spoken with prepared ahead of this year’s flood, preventing the potential for waste and hazards.
A CBJ announcement states the city, Tlingit and Haida, and United Way "are not accepting sandbags for disposal. Residents are strongly encouraged to keep and store sandbags for future outbursts for years to come."
Among the public infrastructure repairs are Back Loop Bridge, communication and utility installations near the bridge, and damaged HESCO barriers.
Repairs to damaged bridge asphalt and erosion of the east abutment are scheduled to begin Saturday, according to a DOT announcement. Officials plan to open the road as soon as possible, with no firm date known yet, but "permanent fixes will continue in the months ahead."
Alaska Electric Light and Power is restoring utilities with a target date of Wednesday for completion, according to DOT. GCI Communication Corp. issued a statement that repairs to damaged network equipment are expected to be completed and full service restored by Friday evening.
A warning about avoiding hazards along the river near the bridge and further downstream was issued Friday by the U.S. Coast Guard.
"Though river levels have subsided, risks remain," the warning states. "Natural hazards exist, including uprooted trees and unstable banks. Channels may differ from those previously familiar to waterway users. The GLOF also left man-made hazards. For example, a utility pole just below the Back Loop Bridge is trailing wires into the river, where the wires are tangled in other debris."
Longer-term work and assessment of the HESCO barriers will be conducted in an attempt to safeguard against damage and seepage that occurred this year. City officials said that reinforcement work is necessary because it will take seven to 10 years for a more permanent flood-protection solution to be implemented, a timeline Alaska’s congressional delegation and some local residents say is unacceptably long.
The Juneau Assembly unanimously approved a local emergency declaration requesting state and federal assistance during a special meeting at midday Friday. That followed a preemptive request before the flood by CBJ and Tlingit and Haida, and a preemptive state disaster declaration by Gov. Mike Dunleavy intended to speed up the process of obtaining recovery resources.
Applications for individual assistance are being accepted until Oct. 13 by the State of Alaska Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Details are available at ready.alaska.gov/Recovery/IA, and people can also apply by phone at (844) 445-7131 or (907) 428-7062.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306. Contact Natalie Buttner at natalieb@juneauindependent.com.
