Latest news with #EmergencyManagers
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Major US city braces for potentially catastrophic glacial flooding as officials urge residents to evacuate
Emergency managers are urging residents of Alaska 's capital, Juneau, to evacuate as glacial flooding from the Mendenhall River threatens to sweep through the city. Officials have recommended that residents within the 17-foot lake level inundation zone evacuate the area until the water recedes and an 'All Clear' message is sent via the wireless emergency alert system. In a Facebook post, officials said a glacial outburst has occurred at Suicide Basin, which is dammed by the Mendenhall Glacier that has experienced accelerated melting and retreat, primarily due to climate change. 'The basin is releasing, and flooding is expected along Mendenhall Lake and River late Tuesday through Wednesday,' they added. The river is expected to crest around 4pm local time on August 13 (8pm ET). Authorities are racing against the clock to protect Mendenhall Valley, where most of Juneau's 32,000 residents live. They are relying on two miles of emergency flood barriers installed just last month, though officials warn the swelling waters could overwhelm them. A large glacial outburst can release as much as 15 billion gallons of water, the equivalent of nearly 23,000 Olympic-size swimming pools, according to the University of Alaska Southeast and the Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center. Nicole Ferrin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said: 'This will be a new record, based on all of the information that we have.' This is a developing story... More updates to come. Many roads, including Mendenhall Loop Road, have been closed, along with facilities along the Mendenhall Valley Public Library, Diamond Park Field House, Diamond Park Aquatic Center and fields located along the river. 'The closure will remain in effect until water levels recede below 12 feet and bridge engineers complete a safety inspection,' officials said. A Red Cross shelter was set up for residents at Floyd Dryden Gymnasium.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Alaska capital Juneau urged to evacuate as 'glacial outburst' flood looms
Emergency managers are urging many residents of Alaska's capital city of Juneau to evacuate as summer glacial flooding driven by climate change threatens to inundate the area. Authorities say flooding from the Mendenhall River will likely crest around 4 p.m. Alaska time on Aug. 13, or 8 p.m. Eastern. They hope two miles worth of emergency flood barriers they finished intalling last month will hold back the waters from Mendenhall Valley, where a majority of Juneau's 32,000 full-time residents live. "Residents are advised to evacuate the potential flood inundation area," City and Borough of Juneau officials said in a message Aug. 12. "Do not go near the river." Gov. Mike Dunleavy has also issued a preemptive disaster declaration, citing the devastation caused by "glacial outbursts" in both 2023 and 2024. As of noon Alaska time on Aug. 12, the Mendenhall River in Juneau had risen to 10 feet deep from its usual level of about 5 feet, crossing into "moderate" flood stage territory, the National Weather Service reported. The record set last year is 16 feet deep, and forecasters say the river could surpass that. Forecasters estimate 14.6 billion gallons of water were released during last year's flood, enough to fill more than 22,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools, according to the weather service. Previous years floods have swamped basements, destroyed infrastructure and collapsed buildings near the riverbanks. A glacial outburst like this occurs when an ice dam holding back a lake - in this case Suicide Basin - collapses from the summer heat, releasing the water in a short period of time. Suicide Basin is part of the Mendenhall Glacier, a popular tourist destination easily reached from Juneau. Federal scientists say climate change is causing the glacier to melt faster, along with altering rainfall patterns, exacerbating the danger. The first recorded outburst flood from the glacier happened 2011, according to the National Weather Service. Because the flooding has been a growing concern for Juneau over the past several years, city officials with federal assistance installed emergency flood barriers along several miles of riverbanks in the areas deemed most at risk for being overtopped. Although the new barriers are designed to hold back a flood of this potential magnitude, officials have asked residents to evacuate as a precaution. Compared to the rest of the country, Alaska has warmed twice as fast over the last several decades, and its average annual temperature has risen 3.1 degrees Fahrenheit in the past century, according to the federal National Centers for Environmental Information. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Glacial outburst' threatens Alaska city, prompts evacuations
