Learning from the Yup’ik: A once-in-a-lifetime deployment experience
By Lafe Low, Red Cross writer In early August last year, summer meltwater from the Mendenhall Glacier surged into the Mendenhall River, causing the river to overflow its banks just outside of Alaska’s capitol city of Juneau. Suicide Basin, situated between the Mendenhall and Suicide Glaciers, typically acts as a dam to glacial meltwater. Last year, however, the volume and force of the water combined with severe coastal storms was just too much. According to a press release issued by the Governor’s office, National Weather Service (NWS) and U.S. Geological Survey hydrologic monitors confirmed the volume of water within Suicide Basin had reached or exceeded levels never seen before. According to the NWS, the river crested at 16.65 feet, making this the largest glacial flooding event on record. Severe coastal storms that were the remnants of a Pacific typhoon exacerbated the already dangerous situation. As always, the American Red Cross was ready to respond. Ruth Lathrop ...
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