2008 Tanana Valley flood facts for kids
Graph of flood depths of the Tanana River at Nenana
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| Date | July 28–Aug. 3, 2008 |
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| Location | Salcha, Fairbanks, Nenana |
| Deaths | 0 deaths |
| Property damage | $10 million+ (2008) |
The 2008 Tanana Valley flood was a big flood that happened in Alaska during late July and early August 2008. It affected several rivers in the middle part of the state. Cities like Fairbanks saw high water. Towns such as Nenana, Salcha, and Old Minto were badly damaged.
The Salcha River and Tanana River reached very high levels. They were the second highest ever recorded, after the big flood in 1967. The Chena River, which flows through Fairbanks, was kept safe. This was thanks to the Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project.
Hundreds of homes were flooded in Fairbanks, Salcha, and Nenana. Smaller villages also saw damage. Luckily, no one was hurt. This was because people got early warnings from the National Weather Service. Local fire departments and the emergency system also helped. The affected area was declared a disaster zone. This meant people whose homes were flooded could get help from the state.
Contents
What Caused the Flood?
- Further information: Tanana Valley
The summer of 2008 was very wet in central Alaska. In June, Fairbanks had more rain than usual. By July 28, a lot more rain fell. This set a new record for that day in Fairbanks. Some areas between Salcha and Delta Junction got even more rain.
On July 29, more rain fell, breaking another record for that date. By the end of July, Fairbanks had more than double its normal rainfall. At Eielson Air Force Base, July 2008 was the rainiest July ever. Even though more rain fell in early August, the main rivers had already reached their highest points.
The Flood Hits
Salcha River Flooding
On July 28, the heavy rain caused the National Weather Service to warn about floods. These warnings were for rivers flowing into the Tanana River east of Fairbanks. The next day, the warnings grew to cover the whole Tanana and Salcha River areas. This was a long stretch of land.
The rising Salcha River forced people to leave their homes on July 29. The Old Richardson Highway was closed in several spots. This happened because the Salcha River overflowed and covered the road near Salcha town. An emergency shelter was set up at Salcha Elementary School for people who had to leave.
On July 30, the Salcha River reached its highest point. It was almost three feet above the flood level. This was one of the highest levels seen in many years. More than 100 homes were partly underwater. Nearly two dozen people stayed at the emergency shelter.
High water stayed in Salcha through July 31. Water still covered roads, and floating debris caused small dams under bridges. By August 1, the Salcha River started to go down. Some roads were still flooded, and falling trees caused power outages. But people began to clean up their homes. By the afternoon, the Old Richardson Highway was clear. The flood warning for Salcha was canceled.
Fairbanks Flooding
The flood started to affect Fairbanks on July 29. The Tanana River overflowed and covered low areas in South Fairbanks. People thought about closing the floodgates of the Moose Creek Dam. This dam is part of the Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project. But the Chena River was not rising as fast, so the gates stayed open.
The Tanana River is not controlled by the flood project. It reached its highest point in Fairbanks on July 30. This was more than two feet above the flood level. It was the highest level since the big Fairbanks flood in 1967. The high water caused flooding in neighborhoods west of Fairbanks. Some people had to leave their homes.
People who stayed were told to boil their water. This was because floodwater might have made the drinking water unsafe. Fairbanks leaders opened an emergency center to help people. On July 31, people in the Rosie Creek neighborhood were woken up by warnings. Volunteer firefighters told them to leave. High water had surrounded their homes. Many went to a shelter at a nearby school. No one was hurt during the evacuation.
The Tanana River's high water caused some of its water to flow into the Chena River. This was unusual. Even so, engineers decided not to close the floodgates of the Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project. They believed the Chena River would not rise above flood level.
By August 1, the Tanana River in Fairbanks started to go down. Some roads were still flooded, and people could not yet return home. But the water level kept falling. The Tanana Valley Fair, which was set to open on August 1, was not delayed.
Even though the Tanana River was falling, the Chena River kept rising. This was because of the different water levels between the two rivers. So, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closed the floodgates of the Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project. This happened at 3:30 a.m. on August 1. They stayed closed until 5:30 a.m. on August 2.
Nenana Flooding
Nenana also got a lot of rain from the storm. But because it is further down the Tanana River, the flood effects arrived later. On July 30, the Alaska Railroad stopped trains south of Nenana. This was because the rising water damaged the tracks.
On July 31, the Tanana River started to flood Nenana. Water covered the railroad tracks in town. The town's clinic had to be moved. Low-lying areas throughout the town were flooded. By August 1, most of the town was at least partly flooded. Basements and other low areas were completely filled with water. The flooded railroad tracks stopped all train traffic between Anchorage and Fairbanks. This cut off Fairbanks from rail transport.
On August 2, the Tanana River in Nenana reached its highest point. It was more than four feet above the flood level. This was the third-highest water level ever recorded there. The town shipyard was under three feet of water. The town's clinic moved again, this time to the airport. Town leaders told people to go to higher ground. Nenana High School was saved from flooding by just eight inches of elevation. Water was around the school's base but did not enter. High water stayed in Nenana until August 3. A weather forecaster then said, "The worst is over."
After the Flood
On August 1, the mayor of Fairbanks North Star Borough, Jim Whitaker, declared a disaster. He asked for help from the state and federal governments. He said the high water caused a lot of damage to over 500 homes. It also damaged roads.
The next day, state officials flew over the flooded areas. On August 4, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin visited Fairbanks. She officially signed the disaster declaration and saw the flooded areas. By mid-August, the total damage from the flood was over $10 million. In late September, President Bush approved federal disaster aid. This allowed federal money to be used to rebuild damaged homes and buildings.
Some Alaska fishermen were worried the floods would make a bad salmon fishing season even worse. They feared it would harm the spawning season for king salmon.
Images for kids
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Graph of flood depths of the Tanana River at Nenana
 | Jessica Watkins |
 | Robert Henry Lawrence Jr. |
 | Mae Jemison |
 | Sian Proctor |
 | Guion Bluford |
