Sunday flood update 2:20 pm Sept. 23

EOC—The Matanuska-Susitna Borough has sustained severe property losses from a week-long storm with high winds and heavy rains. At least three structures have fallen in rushing water, many more have been flooded. Friday more than half the town of Talkeetna left their homes. Alaska Governor Sean Parnell declared a state disaster for the MAT-SU yesterday, authorizing all state agencies and resources to be used.

Becoming operational on last Tuesday, the Emergency Operations Center, (EOC), in the MAT-SU continues to manage emergency response jointly with a collection of agencies, and since Saturday the group includes a Type 2 Incident Management Team from the state of Alaska.

OLD GLENN HIGHWAY, WATER RISING UP TO THE ROAD NEAR KNIK RIVER BRIDGE

The most recent critical area includes: 11:58 am Sunday, water from the Matanuska River has risen next to the highway at mile 9 near the Knik River Bridge. Alaska Dept. of Transportation is monitoring the water level and will slow traffic if the water reaches the roadway. If the water covers the road, DOT says it will close the road. The Matanuska River continues to rise. Watch for updates on the Borough facebook page and public affairs page of the website.

SUBDIVISIONS AT RISK OF FLOODING IN BUTTE IMMINENTLY

Noon: Water has moved 30 feet toward homes in a single hour near two subdivisions. The subdivisions are Heritage Park and Windsong. Within the hour, sandbags will be staged in the Windsong subdivision at Sundance Circle off River Drive for residents to begin protecting their property. An old river channel intersects River Road in Windsong, which may block access if the river moves there. Residents may want to consider moving property to higher ground.

Some 25 homes in Windsong and 15 homes along Americana Lane and Constitution Drive may be affected. Additionally the high tide is expected at 2:48 pm today, and will likely raise waters in the lower sections of the Knik and Matanuska Rivers.

SANDBAGS STAGED ACROSS THE BOROUGH FOR RESIDENTS

Sandbags are placed around the Borough for residents to pick up  

1. Tiffany & Riparian in Meadow Brook subdivision
2. Sutton Fire Station
3. Talkeetna Elementary, Mile 15 Talkeetna Spur
4. Milner Les Maynard Public Safety Building 7731 East Bogard

5. Willow DOT yard, on Parks Highway across from Transfer Station

6. MAT-SU Youth Facility, 501 North Gulkana, Palmer

7. Windsong Subdivision, Sundance Circle off River Drive, Sunday

CRITICAL EVENTS ON FRIDAY

The Talkeetna River rose to the second-highest recorded level, breaking through a revetment, flooding streets and homes, and causing the evacuation of more than half the residents of Talkeetna Friday. Residents are returning to their homes. The EOC is working to get the residents accurate information on water as well as containers of drinking water. Borough-wide at least three structures have fallen in rushing water, two cabins in Willow Creek, and one house Thursday in the Matanuska River.

BUTTE ON FRIDAY SEPT. 21

Butte near Ye Old River Road voluntary evacuation

The Matanuska River left its bed Friday and breached the road revetment at Maud Road sending water over the bike path along the Old Glenn Highway toward some 14 homes near Ye Old River Road. Residents were busy evacuating and sandbagging property Friday Sept. 21.

DRINKING WATER

Alaska Division of Forestry is providing fresh water in 5-gallon containers for affected residents. In Talkeetna drinking water will be staged Sunday at the Borough’s warm storage facility at Comsat Road off the Talkeetna Spur Road.

The EOC is working on distributing water test kits. 150 water test kits are on order and should arrive Tuesday.  

WHEN WILL CLOSED ROADS OPEN

Sunday 2 pm, presently 13 roads across the Borough are closed and two are at risk of closing. Four Borough public works teams are assessing the structural safety of roads and bridges as well as DOT. The timeline for roads opening depends on when the water recedes. Some roads and bridges, however, will require road construction such as the gash in the road at Shirley Towne Bridge.

WEATHER

Independence Mine recorded 6.3 inches of rain over five days.

Rain showers likely, expected up to a 7/10 inch of rain, tapering off to mid-day tomorrow. An 18-hour break is expected before next system arrives Tuesday. Light winds. The rain is not expected to raise rivers but to prolong the receding of the water levels. Flood waters are receding in Talkeetna.

PERSONAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT

Residents and business owners who experienced property damage, start taking photos and marking dates and description of damages. This information is vital to possible reimbursement for damages in a disaster situation.

RESPONSE EFFORT

Numerous remarks on the Borough’s facebook page with its 4,300 friends indicate that the public deeply appreciates the response efforts from the many agencies and volunteers in the community and in the Emergency Operations Center. The Borough presence on facebook has led to critical connections such as the location of some missing hunters last night.

STATE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM

The Type 2 team arrived Saturday after a disaster declaration by Borough Manager John Moosey on Sept. 20. The type of team responding is dictated by the size and complexity of an event. Over the course of the event a few hundred have been responding, including Borough responders and staff, Anchorage responders, contractors, Red Cross, State Troopers, Alaska Railroad, Alaska DOT, and Matanuska Electric Association, Central MAT-SU Fire Auxiliary, MATSU ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) and more.