Danielle Lindoff escaped with her cats through her living room window when floodwaters swept through her Juneau neighborhood last August. Her husband navigated their boat through the dark while she shone a flashlight, dodging submerged mailboxes in their path.
Despite their preparations with sandbags and sealed doors, the Mendenhall Glacier outburst flood broke all previous records on August 5, 2024. The river crested at 15.99 feet, flooding nearly 290 homes, leaving residents shocked and emergency crews scrambling for a response.
Water rushed from Suicide Basin, a side basin of the Mendenhall Glacier, after an ice dam broke and triggered the flood. Scientists now warn that these events may increase in intensity, especially as Alaska’s glaciers continue to melt at accelerated rates.
In response, researchers launched the Juneau Glacial Flood Dashboard to give residents real-time data and early flood warnings. Users can now enter addresses to view customized flood risk predictions and instantly access weather and aerial data.
This tool is part of a larger project funded by the National Science Foundation to study glacial changes and improve flood predictions. Eran Hood, a University of Alaska Southeast scientist, leads this effort with the help of Carnegie Mellon and UAF researchers.
Meanwhile, Juneau spent $8 million installing HESCO flood barriers, charging nearby homeowners $6,300 over ten years for the cost. Floods from Suicide Basin began in 2011 and have returned almost every year, with record-breaking crests in 2023 and 2024.
Local officials now fear additional flood-prone basins will form as the glacier continues retreating deeper into the valley. Beyond Juneau, Alaska’s Snow and Valdez glaciers also pose risks threatening highways, railroads, and even oil infrastructure.
Scientists and engineers warn that more permanent, costly flood systems may soon be necessary to protect vulnerable communities. Budget cuts threaten agencies like the USGS, NOAA, and FEMA, which are critical partners in flood monitoring and emergency response.
