Record Glacial Flooding Hits Juneau, Alaska

Unprecedented glacial flooding over the weekend swept away two homes and severely damaged others in Alaska’s capital city, officials said Sunday.

No injuries have been reported, but floodwaters took part of a third home and caused ‘significant undermining’ damage to a condominium building, said Juneau Deputy City Manager Robert Barr. ‘It is directly tied to a single, specific glacial phenomenon.’

The water surrounding the 3,000-year-old Mendenhall Glacier, which draws tourists from around the world, is now threatening the city.

Flooding from the glacier has been happening every summer since 2011, but this weekend’s overflow smashed previous water level records by nearly three feet. ‘It really exceeded our expectations,’ said National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Park, adding that it is ‘pretty devastating for the community.’