New River Barriers Prevented Severe Flood Damage From Glacial Outburst in Alaska, Officials Say

New River Barriers Prevented Severe Flood Damage From Glacial Outburst in Alaska, Officials Say
HESCO flood barriers, to protect property against glacial outburst flooding, separate a residential area from the Mendenhall River in Juneau, Alaska, on Aug. 3, 2025. Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP
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New sandbag-style barriers installed along a river in Alaska’s capital city held back record levels of flooding and prevented widespread damage after an ice dam at the nearby Mendenhall Glacier released a massive amount of rainwater and snowmelt downstream, officials said Wednesday.

Water pooled on several streets, in some yards, and in some homes in Juneau after the Mendenhall River crested earlier in the day. But the water receded, and by late afternoon officials had reopened affected areas to residents, many of whom evacuated ahead of peak water levels. There were no damage reports similar to the last two years, when flooding was rampant and some homes were washed away.