Yoder dike at risk, fallen trees, rising wate

Here is an overview of activity at the Emergency Operations Center in Wasilla. For floods; overall Montana Creek, at two sites, is in minor flood status and Willow creek at one site is also at near flood stage.  Additionally, Moose creek (the one near Talkeetna) has water beginning to cross Oilwell road at mile 3 and mile 12.  It is reported these creeks have risen about 8-10 inches in the last 24 hours.

MAT-SU EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, 4:40 PM, Wed. Sept. 19

BY Assistant Borough Manager George W. Hays

Here is an overview of activity at the Emergency Operations Center in Wasilla. For floods; overall Montana Creek, at two sites, is in minor flood status and Willow creek at one site is also at near flood stage.  Additionally, Moose creek (the one near Talkeetna) has water beginning to cross Oilwell road at mile 3 and mile 12.  It is reported these creeks have risen about 8-10 inches in the last 24 hours.

Our most critical area at this time is the bridge and dike/levee at Yoder road over Montana Creek.  I’ve attached a picture which shows the Dike/levee at about a 90 degree angle in the creek.  The other picture shows a close up of what is left of this dike/levee which is rapidly being eroded by the  rising water.

Fix Action: We have 10 truckloads of rock on the way to the site from Palmer to replace the dike.   Equipment is also on the way from Talkeetna to place the rock in the dike.  Our goal is to beat the rising waters before the Dike is completely gone.  We are expecting the rocks to be on the ground by about 5:30 P.M. tonight.  The levee protects a road that leads to some 30 homes. For reference, this bridge is about 6 miles upstream from the Parks Highway bridge over Montana Creek.  Additionally, we have reports of Montana Creek breeching its bank in the woods at mile 2 of the Talkeetna Spur road.   
 
In another area, the Butte volunteer Fire Department has removed 9 trees from the following roadways;  3 from Elk, 3 from Backacres, 2 from Idle and 1 from Witherspoon.  The crews are reporting seeing 50' cottonwoods being snapped halfway up and the wind is continuing...
 
MEA crews have been busy restoring power throughout the area today and have reported the causes to  be trees across their power lines.  Currently about 2500 people are without power. Outages are focused around Butte, Eagle River, Soapstone Rd. area, and a few small areas in the valley.

MEA crews have been busy restoring power throughout the area today and have reported the causes to  be trees across their power lines.  Currently about 2500 people are without power. Outages are focused around Butte, Eagle River, Soapstone Rd. area, and a few small areas in the valley.
 
We continue in a 24/7 operation with a small staff in the EOC.

Reporters please call the PIO 373-5378. Also many updates have been on the Borough's facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/MAT-SUBorough

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