Avalanche Closes Alaska Panhandle Highway as Region Battles Flood and Avalanche Threat
An avalanche has closed part of a highway in the borough of Haines, a small town about 90 miles north of Juneau in Alaska’s panhandle, as the region struggles to cope with the aftermath of heavy rain and record-breaking snowfall.
City Manager for Juneau, Alaska, Katie Koester, joins FOX Weather to talk about how locals are handling the recent flood and avalanche threat and how emergency crews are prepared to handle impending situations.
Assessing the Damage
Barricades have been placed at Mile 10 of the Haines Highway, and crews will begin to assess the damage during the daytime on Wednesday, according to Alaska Department of Transportation officials. The department released a few photos of the highway’s condition and issued a travel advisory before the avalanche, reporting that rain-on-ice conditions were making road conditions very difficult. 
(Alaska Department of Transportation/Facebook / FOX Weather)
Record Snowfall and Avalanche Warnings
Relentless rain from an atmospheric river has pounded the southeastern part of the state, which has begun to melt a historic amount of snow that fell across the region over the holidays, triggering days of avalanche warnings. More than 7 feet of snow has fallen across the Alaska panhandle, with the bulk coming after Christmas Eve. Evacuations were issued in Juneau last week after several large avalanches were reported on the Thane and Mount Juneau avalanche paths Friday.
Governor Mike Dunleavy issued a disaster declaration on Saturday for both the ongoing storms and the record-shattering snow. Another day of heavy rain is expected, but the precipitation will finally begin to decrease later Wednesday.
Preparations and Response
Drivers were urged to stay off the road due to the hazardous conditions. The City Manager for Juneau, Alaska, Katie Koester, has been working closely with emergency crews to prepare for and respond to the impending situations. The community has come together to support those affected by the floods and avalanches, and efforts are underway to restore normalcy to the region.
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