Juneau braced for glacial flood as barriers, pumps rush to avert disaster

In Juneau, Alaska, rising water from Mendenhall Lake threatens thousands of homes as a glacial-lake outburst flood builds toward a peak. Emergency managers have urged evacuations as the Army Corps of Engineers extends Hesco barriers and the city installs 43 high-capacity pumps plus rock revetments to hold back floodwaters ahead of the peak. Hydrologists say the basin holds about 17 billion gallons and warming temperatures are intensifying floods since 2011, with major damage in 2023–2025 prompting stronger protections.