In Juneau, a series of small avalanches were triggered after the city issued an evacuation advisory, prompting residents to take precautions. The incident unfolded as Ezra Strong, a resident of Gruening Avenue, was out for a walk in the pouring rain when he witnessed two small avalanches on the slide path of Mount Juneau above the Behrends neighborhood. The city's evacuation advisory, issued approximately an hour prior, urged residents in known slide paths downtown and along Thane Road to be cautious. Strong, however, decided not to heed the advisory, citing the protective rock wall behind his house and past experiences where slides missed his residence.
John Bressette, the City & Borough of Juneau's new Avalanche Advisor, explained during a press conference that smaller slides can reduce the overall hazard by decreasing the amount of snow released in a larger slide. This perspective offers a silver lining to the situation, as smaller slides can potentially mitigate the risk of more significant avalanches. However, the potential for more avalanches later in the day remains high, with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities confirming numerous small avalanches along Thane Road. The forecast predicts continued heavy rainfall, strong winds, and warming temperatures, which could lead to further avalanches and extend the road closure for multiple days.
Some residents of the Behrends neighborhood have evacuated to friends' houses or Centennial Hall, the official shelter set up by the city and the American Red Cross. Carlos Cadiente, who lives near Juneau-Douglas High School, Yadaa.at Kalé, evacuated at around 11:30 a.m. with his wife, heading to a friend's house just down the street. This is the first time they've heeded an avalanche evacuation advisory in the decades they've lived in the area, highlighting the extreme measures being taken due to the extreme weather conditions. The Red Cross of Alaska in Southeast, in coordination with the city, set up an emergency shelter at Centennial Hall, welcoming anyone from avalanche zones or those concerned about the weight on their roofs. The shelter is prepared to accommodate 150 people, and around 30 residents had signed in by early afternoon. As the situation unfolds, residents are urged to stay informed and take necessary precautions, while also being mindful of the potential for further avalanches and road closures.
