Public Safety

At least eight teenagers were injured after an explosion at a drinking party and bonfire on Kodiak Island in the early morning on Sunday. Five of those children were medevaced to Anchorage with moderate injuries, according to a release from Alaska State Troopers. None of the injuries are life-threatening.

“Thankfully, at this point, nobody has died from this — this tragic incident. We hope that parents are using this as an example of ways to communicate again with their students,” said Trooper Spokesperson Austin McDaniel.

Dozens of teenagers attended the party Saturday night at White Sands Beach – about a 15-minute drive north of Kodiak.

The explosion happened after one partygoer allegedly placed a 55-gallon fuel drum onto a fire pit. The Bayside Fire Department was on the scene around 1 a.m. on Sunday. Troopers are asking anyone with additional information to contact the Kodiak Trooper Post.

“Anyone that was there and or anyone that has first hand knowledge of what occurred, is certainly asked to contact the Alaska State Troopers and Kodiak so that way we can speak with them and help understand more about what happened leading up to the teenager that placed the fuel drum in the fire,” McDaniel said.

Troopers said the individual who reportedly placed the drum on the fire was arrested and placed in the custody of the Division of Juvenile Justice.

Alaska Public Media’s Tim Rockey contributed to this reporting.

The Alaska Judicial Council has nominated an Anchorage judge, an assistant attorney general and an expert in utilities law for an upcoming vacancy on the Alaska Supreme Court.

When Gov. Mike Dunleavy picks one of the three, he will create the first majority-female Supreme Court in Alaska history.

Kate Demarest, Josie Garton and Aimee Oravec were each nominated in unanimous votes by the six-member council, which will forward their names to Dunleavy for a final selection within 45 days. One member of the council recused themselves from voting on Oravec, who was nominated 5-0.

One of the three nominees will replace Justice Peter Maassen, who is scheduled to retire at the start of 2025. Maassen currently serves as chief justice, a position that’s elected by the court’s five members to a three-year term.

As chief justice, Maassen sits on the judicial council but votes only in case of a tie. That rare occurrence happened Thursday when the council split 3-3 on approving attorney Holly Wells as a fourth nominee. Maassen voted no, and Wells’ nomination was rejected.

Neither the council members nor Maassen explained their votes on Thursday. The council opened public testimony on Wednesday afternoon, but no one spoke for or against any of the nominees.

Demarest, an Alaska resident for 14 years and attorney for 16, is a senior assistant attorney general with the Alaska Department of Law, and has frequently represented the state in high-profile cases dealing with environmental and social issues.

She has a degree in chemical engineering, was a Peace Corps volunteer in South Africa, and worked as a commercial whitewater rafting guide in Utah.

As a pro bono attorney, she worked on behalf of the Fairbanks Four.

Garton has been an attorney and an Alaska resident for 24 years and was named to a seat on the Anchorage Superior Court in 2018 by then-Gov. Bill Walker.

Before working as a judge, she was an assistant public defender and an attorney representing low-income victims of domestic violence in rural Alaska. In one pro bono case, she represented a torture victim who successfully applied for asylum in the United States through Catholic Social Services.

Oravec, an attorney and Alaska resident for 25 ½ years, is the lead attorney for Doyon Utilities LLC in Fairbanks. She’s the only one of the three nominees to live outside Anchorage.

She served for six years on the Judicial Council as an attorney member, ending her service in 2018. She was nominated by the council in 2022 for a prior opening on the Alaska Supreme Court, but Dunleavy declined to select her at that time.

As part of the review process, the council commissioned a statewide survey of registered attorneys, who are asked to rate the nominees’ fitness to serve as a judge.

Garton received the highest overall rating — 4.6 out of 5.0 — and had the most respondents to the survey, indicating that the score wasn’t the result of a low turnout.

Oravec scored a 4.2, and Demarest a 4.1.

Kate Vogel, who applied but was not selected as a nominee, scored a 4.3, the second-highest overall rating. Vogel is the first assistant United States attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Anchorage.

When Dunleavy names Maassen’s successor, it will end a wave of retirements on Alaska’s high court. Between 2020, when the wave began, and February 2025, four of the court’s five members will have been termed out by the Alaska Constitution’s requirement that judges retire at age 70.

A grand jury in Kenai has indicted Alaska state troopers Joseph Miller and Jason Woodruff on first-degree assault charges after they severely injured a local man while trying to detain him. The troopers had misidentified the man as someone subject to an arrest warrant.

The indictment was announced Thursday by the Alaska Department of Law. First-degree assault, a class A felony, carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a presumptive sentencing range of 7-11 years.

Woodruff and Miller are scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 12.

The two were previously indicted for fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor.

When that lesser indictment was announced in August, it was an extraordinary act: Police in Alaska rarely face criminal prosecution for actions taken on the job.

But in a news conference, James Cockrell, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Public Safety, said that body camera footage made it clear that charges were warranted.

“When I reviewed this video, I was totally sickened by what I saw,” Cockrell said in August.

It was not immediately clear why prosecutors presented the case to jurors for a new indictment. A spokesperson for the Department of Law declined comment, citing the ongoing nature of the case.

“The Criminal Division always continues to evaluate our cases, even after charges are filed. The indictment represents a reassessment of the case, and the grand jury determined the higher charge was warranted,” said Deputy Attorney General John Skidmore in a prepared statement on Thursday.

A spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Public Safety said on Thursday that Miller and Woodruff remain employed by the department but have been off duty since Cockrell became aware of the incident that led to their indictment.

The spokesperson declined to say whether they are on paid or unpaid suspension.

Troopers’ union contract with the state says that “When a member is indicted … the member shall be placed on Authorized Leave Without Pay (LWOP) or allowed to use accrued personal leave pending the conclusion of the criminal proceeding.”

“The Alaska Department of Public Safety continues to fully cooperate with the Office of Special Prosecutions as they prosecute this case,” said the spokesperson, Austin McDaniel. “The alleged actions of Joe Miller and Jason Woodruff do not represent the work that the Alaska State Troopers do every day to protect Alaskans and ensure public safety.”

Recovery efforts continued Thursday in Kotzebue, after a storm and severe flooding Tuesday night destroyed buildings and forced 80 residents to evacuate their homes. Emergency responders are trying to assess the damage as winter quickly closes in.

“I think a lot of the debris, what we are seeing, they don’t even know whose it is, whose stuff it is in their yard, because things are floating around,” said Paulette Schuerch, who works with the Native village of Kotzebue. The tribe has been working with the state, borough and city on the emergency and cleanup response.

Officials said the flooding destroyed Kotzebue’s dock, several roads and bridges and dozens of structures at multiple subsistence camps. The force of the storm also transported four large dumpsters to a sandbar in Kotzebue’s lagoon.

City officials said two homes were also destroyed, displacing a family of six and a disabled elder. The family sheltered at Kotzebue’s school Wednesday night, and the elder stayed at the Nullaġvik Hotel. Coordinated efforts are underway between the city, Kotzebue’s tribe and local churches to secure long-term housing, supplies and food for the affected residents.

Schuerch said although 80 people evacuated to shelter on Tuesday, a lot more people may have left their homes to stay with family or friends. Many more residents’ homes were damaged. She said while many homes are still standing, they may have unstable foundations, damaged insulation, or other repairs that could cause serious safety issues as winter quickly approaches.

“All the insulation and floorboards really need to be an immediate resolution, because they’re going to freeze,” she said.

The City of Kotzebue is encouraging residents to document storm damage and to submit it to their planning department. It’s required for individuals to receive disaster assistance.

City officials said portions of Kotzebue’s sewer lagoon were also impacted, but need to further assess the damage.

Ten members of the Alaska National Guard are expected to arrive on Friday.

“The airfield is open right now, recently open, but it wasn’t for a couple of days,” said Alan Brown, a guard spokesperson. “Our ability to get there – logistics takes so much more energy and time, and it’s much more complicated the further out you are.”

Kotzebue’s airport opened Wednesday night for limited flights after being closed for more than 48 hours. Representatives from Maniilaq Health Center said an emergency flight coordinated with Alaska State Troopers and the Red Dog Mine was able to deliver critical medication to Point Hope on Wednesday while most planes were unable to fly.

Airport officials said the runway and weather equipment necessary for airline travel was damaged by the flood. The access road to the airport also experienced significant damage. Brown said those things can make a big difference.

“Something happens in rural Alaska of this degree, logistics becomes a real factor, whether or not, you know, we can get supplies in,” he said. “That takes a lot more time.”

State officials and the Alaska chapter of the Red Cross are set to arrive in Kotzebue within the next few days. Officials said more emergency supplies like bottled water, dehumidifiers, fans and building materials will hopefully come in soon.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy declared a state disaster on Tuesday.

The Northwest Arctic community of Kotzebue is starting recovery efforts after a coastal storm caused widespread flooding in the town of over 3,000 people. Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued a disaster declaration Tuesday in response, and emergency efforts are continuing as multiple organizations assess the damage.

Residents began evacuating their homes on Tuesday afternoon as rising water levels threatened numerous structures. Over 80 residents evacuated their homes on Tuesday night. Residents were evacuated by the city’s ambulances, with some people riding in the buckets of bulldozers.

The majority of displaced residents stayed in Kotzebue’s high school gym, and others at the hospital, hotel, businesses or with relatives. The borough and a local restaurant, Little Louie’s, provided pizza and breakfast in the morning.

Representatives from a multi-agency emergency response team say at least one home has collapsed into Kotzebue Sound because of the flooding. Officials say multiple homes may also be too damaged to live in, as winter quickly approaches.

Dozens of tents at a seasonal fish camp on Kotzebue’s northside of town have completely washed away and at least one sled dog team has also been displaced. The city says seasonal structures around the Swan Lake dock have also washed away.

Kotzebue schools and numerous businesses remained closed on Wednesday. The town’s airport runways closed on Tuesday due to excessive ice and winds. Flights were scheduled as of noon on Wednesday – although it was unclear if those planes would be able to land. Photos circulating on social media show Alaska Airlines’ terminal flooded.

Emergency officials are encouraging residents to take photos and save receipts in order to document the damages.

Several other communities have also experienced flooding because of the storm, including the coastal communities of Deering and Shishmaref.

Update, 10:30 a.m. Monday:

Water levels continue to recede, but residents are still advised to stay away from riverbanks and flooded areas due to slippery conditions.

Cold temperatures this morning have led to icy roads in some areas as well.

“Minimal impacts were observed to residential neighborhoods” during the flooding event, according to a Facebook post from the City and Borough of Juneau. It advises that banks remain unstable and debris and trees are still flowing downstream.

Update, 5:30 a.m. Monday:

The NWS Juneau has canceled the flood warning for Mendenhall Lake and River. Water will continue to recede through the morning.

Water levels reached a crest height of 10.77 feet late Sunday night at 11:30 p.m., lower than the 11 to 11.5 feet predicted.

As of 3 a.m., the Mendenhall River gauge was back below flood stage at 8.67 feet.

Update, 10:45 p.m. Sunday:

A Facebook post from NWS also advises mariners to be aware that trees and debris have been reported in the river and could become hazards once they are washed out into the ocean.

Update, 3:45 p.m. Sunday:

The National Weather Service reported that flood waters had officially reached flood stage as of 3:15 p.m. Flood stage is 9 feet, and current estimates continue to predict a crest of 11 to 11.5 feet between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. Monday morning.

Update, 11:45 a.m. Sunday:

In a statement posted on Facebook on Sunday morning, the National Weather Service Juneau addressed concerns circulating on social media related to whether high tide will impact flooding during the glacial release.

“The flood inundation maps created in 2014 take into consideration a high tide of 20 feet. While the Mendenhall River is expected to crest near 4 a.m., which is at high tide for the Juneau area, we are only expecting a 15.54 foot high tide,” the post reads.

The city continues to distribute sandbags and sand to residents of streets that have experienced flooding in the past. Bags can be picked up at the Valley Library while sand is available at Dimond and Melvin Parks from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Residents can check the inundation maps to see whether their streets will be impacted at moderate flood stage. Here are directions for how to use the map:
• Scroll down, click “Activate MNDA2 FIM Gauge”
• Zoom out and reposition the map
• Maximize the opacity gauge
• Click the numbers under Stage(ft) on the left-hand side to see predicted inundation levels

In a Facebook post, the city warns that low-lying areas expected to be impacted by flooding shortly will be closed for safety reasons.

“All members of the public should avoid the Mendenhall River until further notice for the safety of yourself and others. Banks are unstable and slippery with recent snow,” the post reads.

Original story:

The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning due to glacial outburst flooding on Mendenhall Lake and River.

Based on the estimated current volume of Suicide Basin, water levels are expected to be much lower than this past summer’s flood.

“This one is definitely going to be different because of the late season and the fact that we’ve got snow on the ground — certainly not expecting major flooding like we saw in August,” said Nicole Ferrin, the warning coordination meteorologist with NWS Juneau Saturday morning.

During the Aug. 6 record-breaking outburst flood, the river crested at 15.99 feet. Flood waters damaged 289 homes.

The current warning is in effect until Monday morning. Ferrin said they predict Mendenhall Lake will continue to rise through Sunday and crest early Monday morning between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. The crest height is predicted to reach between 11 and 11.5 feet.

“When we had the major record flood event back in August that reached almost 16 feet, so we’re talking five feet less than that,” she said.

At the predicted moderate flood stage, low-lying areas will flood, including View Drive. There could be more than a foot of water on Skater’s Cabin Road and the West Glacier trail, and up to three feet of water in parts of the Mendenhall Campground.

At the predicted crest, some parts of View Drive could also start to flood and homeowners along Meander Way may see water seeping into their backyards. But most homes in the Mendenhall Valley should be spared from flooding.

City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Programs Manager Tom Mattice said residents on View Drive should be considering their options for evacuation.

“The residents on View Drive definitely need to be concerned. It’s never any good news, but we hope that the flood goes as predicted,” he said. “People need to be taking evacuation seriously and have their plans in place at this point in time.”

Ferrin said its important residents stay updated from now until at least Monday morning.

“Residents that live along the river should always be aware of what the current conditions are. Monitor your surroundings, pay attention to what’s going on,” Ferrin said. “So take the time now, between now and early Monday morning to get ready for that crest.”

The city is distributing sandbags to homeowners that live in areas impacted by August flooding at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Tuesday.

Experts had predicted another release this fall from Suicide Basin, a glacial lake that dams meltwater and rainwater behind a spur of the Mendenhall Glacier and drains periodically.

In a 10 p.m. update, the NWS predicted that water levels would reach minor flood stage — 9 feet — early Sunday afternoon.

Homeowners in the Mendenhall Valley can get a better idea of potential flood impacts in their neighborhood by consulting the National Weather Service flood maps.

According to the city, View Drive, Skater’s Cabin Road, Kaxdigoowu Héen Dei/Brotherhood Bridge Trail and Dimond Park pedestrian bridge will be closed to traffic beginning Sunday afternoon.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.