Juneau, Alaska – In the wake of a devastating home collapse into a flood-swollen river, a heartwarming reunion has unfolded as an Alaska couple was finally reunited with their resilient cat, Leo, almost a month after the catastrophic event.
Elizabeth Wilkins and Tom Schwartz, both teachers in Alaska, found themselves in the midst of a harrowing situation when their house crumbled into the Mendenhall River on August 5th, in the wake of a glacial-outburst flood. The disaster left them with little more than the clothes on their backs and the hope of finding their beloved feline companion.
Amidst the chaos, Elizabeth clung to the belief that if any creature could survive such a calamity, it would be Leo – their black-and-white cat known for his big, expressive eyes and fearless disposition, even in the presence of bears.
“I knew that he’s pretty smart, and so I felt pretty confident that he would escape and be OK somewhere,” Elizabeth Wilkins remarked, reflecting on her faith in Leo’s survival.
That faith was rewarded 26 days after the flood, when Tonya Mead, a fellow resident, posted a photograph of Leo on the Juneau Community Collective Facebook page. The moment Wilkins saw the image, she knew it was her “COVID kitten,” the pet they had rescued in 2020. Without hesitation, she rushed to meet Mead.
“I just started walking down the street calling for him, and he just ran out and was like, ‘Oh hey, here I am, you know, like, where have you been?'” Wilkins recounted the heartwarming reunion.
The catastrophic flooding that claimed their home was triggered by a significant release of water from Suicide Basin, a lake dammed by the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, causing erosion along the riverbank.
Wilkins and Schwartz had moved into their new home shortly before the disaster while they were away on a mountain biking trip to Bend, Oregon. Friends alerted them with urgent calls and videos warning that their house was in imminent danger of being swept away.
The aftermath of the flood was marked by the devastation of several homes, some partially destroyed, others condemned or flooded. Yet none gained as much notoriety as the house rented by Wilkins and Schwartz, with viral video footage capturing its dramatic collapse into the river.
Returning to Juneau three days later, the couple faced the daunting task of arranging new living accommodations and embarking on a relentless search for Leo. They revisited the site of their collapsed home, repeatedly calling out for Leo’s name and leaving food for him in the chicken coop.
During their search, it seemed like the entire Juneau community was united in the quest to find Leo. Numerous sightings were reported, but Wilkins explained that there were simply many black-and-white cats roaming the city.
When Leo finally made his appearance, he remarkably appeared to be in good health despite his ordeal.
“Leo was a little thinner, but otherwise totally fine,” Wilkins said. “He ate four cans of tuna and went outside to kill a mouse. I imagine that is how he survived.”
Currently, Leo is staying with a friend while Wilkins and Schwartz continue their search for a new place to call home. The couple is immensely grateful to have their feline friend back and cherishes the support of their community during this challenging time.
“It’s super joyful because everyone in their community was looking for him, and it’s nice to have some good news,” Wilkins expressed.
As they rebuild their lives, some of their lost possessions, though not in the same pristine condition as Leo, are gradually finding their way back to them, serving as a reminder of their incredible journey of survival and resilience.
“People have been finding some things, like some of our clothes and pictures were in 4 feet of silt in someone’s yard down the Mendenhall River,” Wilkins shared, symbolizing the small victories amidst adversity.
