After a record-breaking flood along the Mendenhall River on Aug. 5, residents whose homes and properties were affected are figuring out what’s next.
At least 20 households have been displaced, and some properties were destroyed by the glacial outburst flood.
The city declared a local emergency Aug. 8 to open up avenues for disaster relief funding.
We’ll update these resources with more information as we learn more about them.
General resources
Residents with questions about long-term needs or other resources should email floodresponse@juneau.gov. The city also has a page dedicated to community assistance from organizations like the Red Cross and Salvation Army
See the Community Assistance section for information on financial assistance, clothing, food and household items being offered by the Salvation Army, the Red Cross and St. Vincent de Paul.
Applying or assistance from the state
Residents that wish to apply for individual assistance through the state can apply online at ready.alaska.gov/Recovery/IA or call 1-844-445-7131 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m – 4 p.m.
Cleanup and waste disposal
Capitol Disposal Landfill is accepting self-haul waste from residents of streets affected by the flooding from now through Aug. 26. Residents will be asked to verbally verify that their residence was built after 1984 (due to asbestos concerns) and to show an ID, utility bill or other form of identity showing their name and address.
The city has a community beach cleanup planned for Sunday, Aug. 13, beginning at 2 p.m. City staff will distribute empty bags at the Auke Lake wayside and boat launch and at the False Outer Point wayside. City crews will pick up filled bags from the right-of-ways on the North Douglas Highway, Mendenhall Peninsula Road, and Fritz Cove Road.
Property tax reassessments
Property owners who experienced damage or loss can apply for property tax reassessments. Contact the Assessor’s Office at (907) 586-5215 ext. 4906 or Assessor.Office@juneau.gov to begin the process.
Emergency bank stabilization
The city has authorized emergency bank stabilization along the Mendenhall River. Property owners who need to stabilize their land along the Mendenhall River can do so right away, without getting a permit in advance.
People who plan to stabilize riverbanks on their property should let the city’s community development department know about any bank stabilization work as soon as they start, so staff can begin the permitting process.
Other resources:
Juneau Community Collective on Facebook has posts listing the various GoFundMe fundraisers and found items that have washed up following the flood.
From the American Red Cross of Alaska on Aug. 10:
“The American Red Cross of Alaska is opening a Client Assistance Center in Juneau on Thursday, August 10, 2023. This center will be located at the Red Cross office, 5636 Glacier Hwy Suite 101, Juneau, AK 99801. This service center hours will be as follows:
Thursday: 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Individuals who have been impacted by the recent disaster are invited to come to the assistance center to receive information and assistance from the Red Cross. This location will also have information and referrals to outside service agencies. The Red Cross will also have disaster emergency supplies to distribute to residents in need.
Anyone needing assistance from the Red Cross who cannot travel to the Client Assistance Center should call 1-800-RED-CROSS to speak with a disaster volunteer.”
