Mat River flooding returns

BUTTE — The recent return to winter weather is causing flooding at a residence along the Matanuska River near Mile 13.5, Old Glenn Highway Sunday morning.

Rain followed by colder temperatures and snowfall are causing the river to freeze and the remaining water to find new paths, said Casey Cook, Mat-Su Borough Emergency Manager.

Butte Fire Department volunteers arrived Sunday morning and began helping the family place sandbags around the house and evacuate some pets, he said. Cook said the house is a multi-level structure and has water in the lower level, but hopefully the family won't need to evacuate.

He said the family has been impacted by flooding along the Mat River before, but never during the winter.

“It’s always unusual to get flowing water in your house in December,” Cook said.

Butte resident Pat Huddleson who maintains a Facebook page about flooding from Mile 13 to 15 on the Old Glenn said the water is flooding the bike path but her property is still dry.

“All we want here along the Matanuska River for Christmas is protection from the river,” she wrote.

This is a developing news story. Check back for updates throughout the day.