Update: The Red Cross is opening a shelter at the Willow Community Center for residents who have evacuated their homes due to high water.
Update: 9:30 p.m. Channel 2's Dan Fiorucci filed this report from Willow:
In Willow, people are facing the worst flooding in six years.
Flood meters on parts of Willow Creek registered water levels at 10 feet.... that's flood stage and they're still rising.
Emergency officials are recommending the evacuation of 155 buildings.
This is not a mandatory evacuation, but it is recommended.
Willowcreek in the Shirleytown Road area is expected to rise tonight and it could cut off people living in 155 buildings in that area.
The Willow Community Center, next to the fire station has been opened to the public and town officials are urging people in the flood area to take advantage of the center before the roadway is covered by floodwater and cutoff.
At this point the flood gauge on one part of Willow Creek has passed 10 and a half feet...half a foot above flood stage.
It's expected to keep rising to 11 and three quarters feet by sometime Thursday night, so at this hour we have not seen the worst of the situation yet.
Previous report:
Mat-Su Borough officials are suggesting evacuations for people living along a stretch of Willow Creek, which may cut off residents’ access to nearby roads if it continues to flood.
VickieLee Fenster, a spokesperson for the Mat-Su Borough’s Emergency Operations Center, says officials are recommending that people living along Willow Creek from Shirley Town Drive to the Parks Highway evacuate. Deputy borough manager had said the creek was nearing flood stage as of about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.
Fenster says Willow Creekside Road is flooding and Deneki Road is “compromised,” with flooding from the creek possibly cutting off access to Willow Fishhook Road.
“The water does not look dangerous but it is fast moving and eroding the roads quickly,” Fenster wrote in a Wednesday statement on the evacuation request.
Borough spokesperson Patty Sullivan confirmed the details of the evacuation request in a subsequent email, and offered advice on how residents should respond.
"You can stay put if you feel safe, away from water," Sullivan said. "But if you can stay elsewhere tonight, it's recommended."
This is a developing story. Please check KTUU.com and the Channel 2 newscasts for updates.
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