An outburst flood in Juneau, Alaska has turned the Mendenhall River into a home-destroying machine, taking down houses, trees, and basically anything in its wake.
Officials in the Alaskan capital issued an emergency declaration after a break in the Suicide Basin, a side basin of the Mendenhall Glacier caused record flooding. During the incident, the river crested to an all-time high of 14.97 feet on Saturday evening, nearly three feet higher than its previous peak of 11.99 feet in July 2016.
Full Video- Glacial break causes major flooding in Alaska, City officials in #Juneau, #Alaska, have issued an #emergency declaration as a glacier lake outburst flood wreaks havoc near the city, where structures have been destroyed.#SuicideBasin #Mendenhall #Glacier
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) August 7, 2023
This… pic.twitter.com/AAoxhkb9rc
Alongside swallowing several large trees, the river engulfed “at least two structures,” per a statement from the city, including one home in a harrowing viral clip.
City officials in Juneau, Alaska, issue emergency declaration as glacier lake outburst causes major flooding. https://t.co/9ayF97vj0y pic.twitter.com/2542fWudli
— ABC News (@ABC) August 7, 2023
But this may only be the beginning. Rob Barr, Juneau’s deputy city manager, noted that “a handful” of other structures may succumb to the roaring waters, one of which is a condominium that has been “significantly undermined” by the extreme weather event, he told ABC News.
We can only hope that the waters subside soon … and that Juneau residents have some really good homeowner’s insurance.
Comments