2026 Juneau GLOF Unified Command Responds to Imminent Glacial Outburst

As of August 11, National Weather Service (NWS) monitoring data showed Suicide Basin was full and beginning to overtop. The 2026 Juneau GLOF Unified Command, led by the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ), Tlingit & Haida, and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Southeast Alaska, has activated final response preparations for a potential glacial outburst within 1-6 days, including flood mitigation, pump deployment, a public hotline, emergency shelter and transportation staging, and extra steps to notify households within the inundation zone.

The Unified Command is joined by agency partners in preparedness and response at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (Alaska DOT&PF), the State of Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the American Red Cross, and others to ensure effective coordination. While partners have been meeting on a regular basis for a potential response, the Unified Command began meeting regularly in early August at the Emergency Operation Center hosted in the Tlingit & Haida Public Safety Building. The daily briefings include reports from section chiefs and safety briefings to inform next actions of the Unified Command. The top priority of these meetings is the safety of people and infrastructure.

Following the overtop notification from the NWS, an alert was issued to all cell phones in the Juneau area via the Wireless Emergency Alert and Emergency Alert Systems. A second alert will be issued when the basin begins to release. To receive updates between emergency alerts, residents are advised to sign up for CBJ alerts at bit.ly/CBJAlerts or by texting "CBJ" to 38276. For the most up-to-date information regarding the status of the basin, visit https://www.weather.gov/ajk/suicidebasin.

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A non-emergency public flood information hotline went live in mid-July. Staffed by CBJ staff and trained volunteers, the hotline provides information about sheltering, transportation, current conditions, and other questions residents may have as they prepare for an evacuation alert. The phone number for the flood information hotline is (907) 500-0890.

The hotline is for general flood information only. All emergency calls should go to 911.

Starting at 12:30 p.m. on August 11, printed evacuation preparation notices are being distributed to all homes located within the 2026 evacuation advisory area map shown on the CBJ website. Sign up for emergency alerts to receive most current information. Each printed notice includes shelter information, basic steps for protecting property, the flood information hotline number, and a link to Juneau's flood readiness website at bit.ly/JuneauFloodReady.

CBJ Engineering staff are completing the final pre-basin release inspection of the HESCO barriers and closing all installation and drainage outlets.  CBJ Streets staff are finalizing inspections and preparations for the pumps deployed behind the barriers.

When the basin releases, the public should avoid travel within the evacuation advisory area. Alaska DOT&PF will close the Back Loop Bridge to vehicle and pedestrian traffic when the Mendenhall Lake gauge (MNDA2) reaches 12 feet. Mendenhall Loop Road will be closed to through traffic between Montana Creek Road and Mint Way. Access will remain open to River Road and View Drive for local traffic. Brotherhood Bridge will remain open to vehicle traffic. The pedestrian sidewalks and paths on and below Brotherhood Bridge will be closed when the Mendenhall Lake gauge (MNDA2) reaches 10 feet. Last year several trees impacted the sidewalks on the bridge, creating a hazard for pedestrians. If you need to drive across Brotherhood Bridge, continue directly through and do not stop. Alaska DOT&PF is maintaining up-to-the-minute updates on the 511 Traveler Information System at 511.Alaska.Gov so residents and travelers can get timely road condition and closure information. Bridge inspections, traffic control measures, and other road closures will be implemented as needed to protect the traveling public.

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Officials are requesting that residents that do not live or work in the potential flood inundation area avoid these neighborhoods where possible to stay safe and allow impacted residents to prepare. There are several live streams of the Mendenhall River, Lake and Glacier linked at bit.ly/juneaufloodready for the public to view the river from a safe distance.

Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska is actively participating in the Unified Command with local, state, federal, and tribal agencies to execute a coordinated response to the anticipated 2026 Juneau Glacier Outburst Flood. The Coast Guard is prepared to respond to and identify maritime search and rescue, pollution, and environmental threats, and stands ready to coordinate other governmental agencies' support requests.

Alaska DOT&PF will support the Unified Command with real-time drone monitoring of key infrastructure, including bridges, the wastewater treatment facility, HESCO barriers, and other sites that could be impacted by flooding. This information is critical for guiding response actions. During the GLOF, a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) will be issued over the flood area to restrict aircraft, including recreational drones, from operating within the defined airspace to minimize potential air conflicts. Unauthorized drones in the TFR create safety hazards and can shut down emergency monitoring operations. Learn more about DOT&PF's traffic and drone operations at dot.alaska.gov/sereg/juneau-glof/.

The CBJ, Tlingit & Haida, the State of Alaska, Alaska DOT&PF and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska, and the USACE have formed a Joint Information Center (JIC) and will support a Unified Command system during any potential GLOF in 2026. The JIC will continue to distribute updates and information to the public via bit.ly/JuneauFloodReady and agency social media channels.

For media resources including briefing information, inquiry and contact information, and photo/video assets, visit juneau.org/emergency/emergency-media-resources.

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