Juneau’s worsening winter disaster entered a new and more dangerous phase Thursday as large sections of downtown were ordered to evacuate and emergency crews abruptly pulled workers off the roof of Fred Meyer amid fears the building could be nearing collapse.
Contractors clearing snow from the Fred Meyer roof, where engineers estimate nearly 3 million pounds of snow had accumulated, Â were ordered off the structure and had hoisting equipment removed from around the building.
Thirty snow shovelers had been brought in from Anchorage to shovel the roof. Workers on site said they were not given a reason for the sudden stop, but the move strongly suggests structural failure concerns. No other explanation has been offered.
At the same time, a citywide evacuation advisory was issued for all known avalanche paths, covering portions of downtown Juneau, according to online hazard maps  released by the City and Borough of Juneau.
Residents in affected areas were told to immediately leave vulnerable structures and avoid avalanche-exposed travel corridors. Thane Road was closed at noon, cutting off one of the city’s key neighborhoods as conditions deteriorated.
An emergency shelter was opened at Centennial Hall starting at noon, with officials urging residents in threatened zones to relocate. The city is directing people to its emergency advisory map at: https://juneau.org/emergency/current-advisory
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The rapid escalation follows days of heavy snow, rain, and freeze-thaw cycles that have pushed building loads, slopes, and infrastructure beyond design limits. What began as a snow emergency has become a full-scale structural and geologic crisis.
The city is now mobilizing crane crews to remove snow from Bartlett Regional Hospital, amplifying fears that even critical facilities are in danger.
On Thursday, Mendenhall River Community School was evacuated due to snow loads on the school’s gym. Students were relocated to the Thunder Mountain Middle School.
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The city has flown in 30 additional roof-clearing workers from Washington state to remove dangerous snow loads from the buildings.
Across Juneau, roofs are sagging and hillsides are unstable. The city is moving toward crisis mode.
A press briefing was live on the city’s YouTube channel this morning: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbC37ygkTn7MdlLadv92kaQ
The mood across the capital city has shifted from inconvenience to fear. Between collapsing roofs, avalanche paths cutting through neighborhoods, and entire sections of downtown being cleared out, Juneau is now dealing with one of the most dangerous winter weather emergencies in its history.
This story is developing and will be updated as city officials provide new information.
One thought on “Juneau on edge as major structures, downtown areas evacuated over avalanche and roof collapse fear”
My thoughts go to Juneau residents as the threat has become quite real. Perhaps the shaking reality that has befallen the legislature will shake some reality into them. Needs are real, wants – not so much.