Juneau declares disaster after record snow; shelters, avalanche monitoring and roof removals continue
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Summary
City Manager Kester said Juneau issued a disaster declaration Jan. 6 after heavy snow overloaded municipal facilities, triggering evacuations, a shelter at Centennial Hall and a large mobilization of contractors and engineered roof shoveling; avalanche risk remains for the Barron subdivision.
City Manager Kester told the Juneau City and Borough Assembly on Jan. 12 that the city issued a disaster declaration on Jan. 6 after record snow and related roof-snow-load concerns overwhelmed municipal resources and raised avalanche risk.
Kester said the governor followed with a state declaration that opened state resources and mobilized the State Emergency Operations Center. "We issue a declaration when our own resources have been overwhelmed," Kester said, noting concerns about snow loads on public facilities prompted the request for state assistance.
The city evacuated a known slide path on Jan. 8 and established a shelter at Centennial Hall; the shelter census at its peak was "just under 50" people and was down to about 12 as of Kester's report, she said. In the Barron subdivision the evacuation order remains in effect while engineers and state partners monitor snowpack stability.
Kester described significant operational work: the city mobilized contractors to remove snow, cleared fire hydrants, flew in more than 200 people for roof work and reported that volunteers and contractors shoveled roughly 3,000,000 pounds of snow from city facilities. For safety reasons Capital Transit suspended stops on Glacier Avenue while the evacuation notice is in effect.
On avalanche monitoring, Kester said the city installed an instrument (described in testimony as an "Abby Monster") in Douglas pointed at Barrons and planned helicopter overflights as weather permits to gather visual and geotechnical information. Kester said the equipment will help detect even very small slides.
When asked whether the city would trigger an artificial avalanche in an occupied slide path, Kester replied, "No. That is not something we would do in an occupied slide path." Assembly members and staff described a staged response in which Capital City Fire/Rescue establishes scene safety and heavy equipment and marine transport are staged to support road clearing or evacuations if needed.
Kester said the city had to relocate cold-weather shelter guests temporarily when concerns about snow load at a warehouse and at Marie Drake arose; guests were moved to Glacier Valley gym while inspections and cleanup occurred. The city emphasized it would not turn anyone away from the shelter while evacuation notices remain active.
Kester said the city is documenting damage through an online reporting tool on the CBJ website to support disaster-declaration and assistance requests, and that the city is working with insurers to pursue claims to mitigate municipal expense.
The assembly ended the segment by recognizing street crews and state partners with a standing ovation for storm work and coordination.
The city said it will continue to monitor avalanche risk in the Barron area and keep the Emergency Operations Center activated while weather and snowpack conditions evolve.
