Officials say new barriers protected against the kind of major damage inflicted during last year’s destructive Suicide Basin release, though high water inundated numerous areas.

After waters peaked at 16.65 feet, newly installed HESCO barriers and early alerts spared schools, homes and businesses from major damage with no rescues or evacuations.

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.