Juneau residents began evacuating amid a looming flood threat triggered by the Mendenhall Glacier. Could this jeopardize Donald Trump’s upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin?
Flood Threat in Alaska
Eruptive melt of the Mendenhall Glacier caused water from a lake to spill into the Mendenhall River in Juneau, leading to a flood threat. On Sunday, August 10, the National Weather Service issued a warning that Suicide Basin was full and began to overflow. From Tuesday, Aug 12, libraries, sports fields and other public facilities were closed. The water level in Mendenhall reached about 3.5 meters, but the next day it climbed to about 5.1 meters – the highest recorded flood caused by a glacial lake outburst, according to Fox Weather.
Evacuation of Residents
Juneau officials urged prompt evacuation of residents in the flood zone. “Be prepared – finalize your evacuation plans, complete preparations, and evacuate when you’re ready. Do not approach the Mendenhall River,” the city council wrote. The Red Cross recommended packing suitcases—a simple suggestion to bring items you normally carry in a travel bag, such as medication, glasses, and ID, said Julie Swisher of the Red Cross Alaska, quoted by the Alaska News Source.
End of Flood Threat
Floodwaters began receding early Wednesday. The city of Juneau announced that evacuated areas would remain closed to residents. Damage estimates were also released. “Teams will move through disaster‑hit areas to assess losses and other impacts. Please exercise caution near damaged zones and avoid riverbanks. Do not drive through standing water. In addition to the safety hazard, driving generates waves that further damage nearby structures,” the city said. It also reported that children can return to school on Friday.
2024 Flood Swept Homes
Authorities began preparing for the disaster as late as late July, when full‑scale emergency response drills were conducted. The warning was that a “record‑setting flood caused by glacial lake outburst” would arrive. The warnings were serious because, in August 2024, a flood from Suicide Basin inundated homes and infrastructure. Notably, some of the affected areas were far beyond the designated flood zones.
Trump‑Putin Meeting in Alaska
Remember that on Friday, August 15, Vladimir Putin will meet Donald Trump. The meeting will take place at the Elmendorf‑Richardson Army Base in Anchorage, Alaska, over a thousand kilometers from Juneau. According to White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt, the occasion will be “to sit, look the Russian president in the eye and consider how to push things forward, end this brutal war, and restore peace.” A joint lunch for both delegations and a press conference are also scheduled. Further details are available in Daniel Droba’s article: “Trump‑Putin Meeting. OSW Expert: If the US concedes, Russia will remind of 2021 demands.”
Kaynaklar:
City of Juneau, FOX Weather, National Weather Service, Reuters
