Heavy rains in Southcentral have once again caused the waters of the Matanuska River to erode its banks in some areas, notably Sutton and the Butte area.
Matanuska Susitna Borough spokeswoman Patti Sullivan says one homeowner in the Butte area has moved out of his house due to the danger, while a second homeowner there, Josh Shaver, had taken matters into his own hands.
“He hired a mover to lift his house and move it away from the river up toward higher ground on his driveway today [Wednesday]. And he told me that since last Tuesday he thinks he lost two acres of land to the river,” Sullivan said.
The Borough has connected Shaver with federal emergency funds which will pay for 75 percent of the cost of the move.
Sullivan says the water is flowing over the land in some places. Three homes in Sutton are being threatened by the rising water. Those residents are taking different approaches to the flooding. One family is staying put, while residents are helping the two others move possessions back from the riverbank.
Note: this is a developing story. Check for updates
Listen for the full story
APTI Reporter-Producer Ellen Lockyer started her radio career in the late 1980s, after a stint at bush Alaska weekly newspapers, the Copper Valley Views and the Cordova Times. When the Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, Valdez Public Radio station KCHU needed a reporter, and Ellen picked up the microphone.
Since then, she has literally traveled the length of the state, from Attu to Eagle and from Barrow to Juneau, covering Alaska stories on the ground for the AK show, Alaska News Nightly, the Alaska Morning News and for Anchorage public radio station, KSKA
elockyer (at) alaskapublic (dot) org | 907.550.8446 | About Ellen
