Flood in Denali, Alaska

A weather system moved west over Denali National Park on the night of the 26th and morning of the 27th, dropping four and one quarter inches of rain over the western portion of the Park in a short amount of time, according to the Wonder Lake RAWS. Moose Creek and Eureka Creek, located about 5 miles west of Wonder Lake, both flooded on the morning of the 26th. Flood waters from Moose Creek moved into the Denali Wilderness Lodge property, reaching the buildings on the morning of the 29th. The guests and some staff of the Lodge, a total of 103 persons, were evacuated to Wonder Lake the evening of the 27th, where buses transported them to hotels near the park headquarters. elevation. Moose Creek crested around 0900AKST on the 27th. The nearby airstrip at Kantishna also flooded and remained under water until the evening of the 27th, when flights could be made to evacuate people. There were a few road washouts as well on the Denali Park Road from Wonder Lake to the Denali Wilderness Lodge. During the evening of the 27th, flood waters receded and the only damage to the Lodge was that outdoor propane tanks floated and their lines broke. Damage is estimated to cover repair of road washouts.