In a devastating turn of events, the Mendenhall River in Juneau, Alaska, experienced record-breaking flooding, causing widespread damage to homes and prompting local and state emergency declarations. The rapid retreat of the Mendenhall Glacier, a consequence of human-caused climate change, has led to glacial outburst floods occurring annually in Juneau. However, the last two years have seen unprecedented levels of flooding, leaving homeowners and authorities grappling with the aftermath.

Weston Holland, a resident of an apartment on Emily Way, woke in the early hours of Tuesday to find water flooding his home. He described the surreal experience, with water rushing in through the front door, reminiscent of scenes from the Titanic. The force of the water pushed him back as kitchen appliances were lifted and floated in the deluge. Acting swiftly, Holland and his wife evacuated their four sons, including their seven-year-old autistic child, floating him to safety atop a refrigerator.

Elsewhere in Juneau, residents faced similar struggles. Debbie Penrose Fischer, bound to a wheelchair and reliant on oxygen, found herself trapped as the floodwaters engulfed her home on Gee Road. With depleting oxygen and no means of escape, she made a distress call to Capital City Fire/Rescue, who managed to reach her by raft and transport her to a nearby shelter.

The extent of the damage caused by this year's flood is still being assessed by authorities. Deputy City Manager Robert Barr suggests that numerous homes were impacted, potentially reaching the hundreds. While last year's flood primarily caused severe erosion along riverbanks, this year's catastrophe has involved standing water, leading to a different type of damage to properties.

City officials had issued an evacuation notice on Monday evening, but not all residents heeded the warning in time. Warnings were compounded by power outages, leaving some residents in a vulnerable position as the floodwaters rose uncontrollably. Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon, after surveying the affected areas, noted the significant increase in flood levels compared to the previous year and vowed to gather evidence for a National declaration of disaster.

Recognizing the magnitude of the situation, the City and Borough of Juneau swiftly passed a resolution in a special Assembly meeting, declaring the flood a local emergency and requesting state and federal aid. Governor Mike Dunleavy responded by declaring a state disaster emergency, which will unlock recovery funds at the state level and potentially attract assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Members of Alaska's congressional delegation, including Senator Dan Sullivan and Senator Lisa Murkowski, have also been actively engaged in seeking support from FEMA and federal agencies. They are determined to work towards finding measures to prevent future flooding and mitigate the impact on affected communities.

As Juneau residents shelter in emergency facilities, the focus now turns to recovery and rebuilding. The road to recovery will undoubtedly require extensive federal assistance, as the city grapples with the aftermath of yet another devastating flood.