Update, 6:25 a.m. Wednesday: The Mendenhall River hit a record level as of 6 a.m., according to the National Weather Service. The river is in major flood stage at 16.17 feet and rising, the agency said. That surpasses the record set last year of 15.99 feet.

These floods, which began more than a decade ago, have become increasingly destructive in recent years and now pose a persistent summertime threat. This time, Alaska’s capital city fortified itself against the floodwaters.