NOTN- City officials in Juneau say flood protection measures largely held during this month’s Suicide Basin release, but the risk of another release later this year remains.
Emergency Programs Manager Ryan O’Shaughnessy said five of the most severely damaged homes were on View Drive.
The barriers prevented widespread destruction but still experienced seepage and minor flooding in some areas.
“Six homes did have that major damage classification, And what that means is that water entered the living space and was generally above the height of a standard electrical outlet.” Said O’Shaughnessy, “At this time, the best professional judgment of the CBJ Engineering and Public Works team does believe that the HESCO barriers are not a viable solution for View Drive, so we’re working to identify any other solutions we can.”
Officials say long-term options for View Drive could include state- or federally sponsored buyouts. Meanwhile, the city is focusing on assessing barrier performance, repairing damaged sections, and moving forward with “Phase Two” of the project, which would extend protection as far as Brotherhood Bridge and Meadow Lane.
“There’s a lot of questions about phase two, and we’re working really hard to answer those, but seeing the effectiveness of the HESCO barriers this year is a great indication and a good reminder that we’re not out of the woods yet,” O’Shaughnessy said.
Last year, Suicide Basin released again in October with a final flood stage of just under 11 feet, and officials warn the glacier-dammed lake is currently refilling at a steady rate of about three feet per day, O’Shaughnessy said. “It is entirely possible we could see another release this year, another great reminder that we have a lot of work to do as a community.”
The city issued evacuation notices to more than 1,000 homes ahead of the flood, which crested at 16.6 feet, the highest on record. O’Shaughnessy credited the unified response involving the City and Borough of Juneau, state agencies, tribal partners, and the U.S. Coast Guard with preventing loss of life.
