Talkeetna Fire Captain and Operations Chief Tim Morgan stopped by the command center this morning on his way home to a well-deserved sleep break to report that flood waters continued to recede in both East Talkeetna and downtown Talkeetna. Hydrology levels have dropped significantly on the Talkeetna River and Montana Creek; the Susitna River water levels are slowly dropping.
Emergency responders and volunteers dug two major water diversion channels that mitigated damage in the town-site. In East Talkeetna, the Department of Transportation personnel led by Steve Hanson dug a diversion channel around the Talkeetna State Airport airstrip that re-directed water out to the Twister Creek slough. Over in downtown Talkeenta, Borough responders and a team of hard-working volunteers diverted a channel running through downtown neighborhood, winding across streets and through backyards, out to D Street along the Talkeetna Village airstrip out to the main channel south of the town-site.
The flood danger is not over – the National Weather Service flood warning continues through 10:00 pm Sunday. Another rain system is approaching, but is expected to be lighter. Residents are still advised to use extreme caution especially when driving or walking on flooded or rain-saturated roads.
Lorien Nettleton is a reporter with KTNA in Talkeetna.
