The luckywin of Alaska is working closely with the City and Borough of Juneau and local emergency officials to support community needs after historic flooding impacted neighborhoods in the Mendenhall Valley on August 6, 2024. Our hearts go out to those impacted by these floods and our teams are poised to support recovery efforts in the days and weeks ahead.

As residents are able to return home and begin cleaning up, the Red Cross offers the below safety steps people in the affected area should follow.

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SAFETY STEPS WHEN YOU RETURN HOME
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• Wear protective clothing, including rubber gloves and rubber boots, and be cautious when cleaning up.
• If power lines are down outside your home, do not step in puddles or standing water. Report them immediately to the power company.
• Check the outside of your home before you enter. Look for loose power lines, broken or damaged gas lines, foundation cracks, missing support beams and other damage. If the door is jammed, don’t force it open — it may be providing support to the rest of your home. Find another way to get inside.
• Throw out items that absorb water and cannot be cleaned or disinfected. This includes mattresses, carpeting, cosmetics, stuffed animals and baby toys.
• Discard all food, beverages and medicine exposed to flood waters and mud. When in doubt, throw it out. This includes canned goods, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and containers with food or liquid that has been sealed shut.
• Take pictures of home damage, both of the buildings and its contents,Ìý. Make temporary repairs such as covering holes, bracing walls, and removing debris. Save all receipts.
• Sniff for gas. If you detect natural or propane gas, or hear a hissing noise, leave the property immediately and get far away from it. Call the fire department after you reach safety.
• If the weather is dry, open windows and doors to ventilate and/or dry your home.
• Be careful when moving furnishings or debris, because they may be waterlogged and heavier.
• If any gas or electrical appliances were flooded, don’t use them until they have been checked for safety.
• If you have a propane tank system, turn off all valves and contact a propane supplier to check the system out before you use it again.
• Is the floor sagging? It could collapse under your weight, so don’t walk there! Small sections that are sagging can be bridged by thick plywood panels or thick, strong boards that extend at least 8–12 inches on each side of the sagging area.

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For more flood safety tips, click here.

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HOW TO HELP After a disaster, people are incredibly generous and ask how they can best help. Financial donations are the quickest and best way to support people impacted by disasters. Your financial donation to the Red Cross of Alaska helps provide shelter, meals, relief supplies, comfort, and other assistance during disasters like this one for community members in need across the state. Visit to learn more.

The Red Cross of Alaska is also looking for more volunteers to help us respond when disaster strikes. Learn more about local volunteer opportunities with the Red Cross by clicking here.

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