Recovery begins, community meeting planned today in Talkeetna

MAT-SU — Today the Mat-Su Borough announced that all but one of the rivers swollen to flooding had crested and was going down.

The Skwentna River was the only one yet to crest, according to a 10:30 a.m. update on the borough’s Facebook page. National Weather Service officials forecast two more days before it starts to recede.

But water levels in the Matanuska, Knik, and Susitna rivers were going down, officials said.

Now the response moves into the clean-up and recovery phase. The borough says that road crews will be out assessing damage. Drivers should keep an eye out.

The update contained word on two bridges. Deneki Meadows is expected to have walking access by Tuesday and vehicle access in a week with a new bridge.

Shirley Towne Drive isn’t as lucky. The bridge there “will not be opened for awhile,” according to the borough.

Up in Talkeetna, where whole subdivisions were evacuated and the east side of town flooded, water is OK on the west side of town but is being tested on the east side. Borough officials urge residents to boil it for at least two minutes before drinking. A community meeting is planned at 6 p.m., Tuesday at Talkeetna Elementary to talk about what happens next in the recover effort.