An aerial view of flooding in Glennallen, posted Sunday by state officials. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities).
Gov. Mike Dunleavy has actually provided a disaster declaration after flooding from ice jams and snowmelt hit numerous communities over the weekend.
National Weather Service hydrologist Ed Plumb said Eagle, Circle and Fort Yukon all experienced high water. The water and ice level rose considerably at Eagle Friday night and crested Saturday early morning, he said.
" Water and ice went over the bank, up over downtown, water into the Falcon Inn right there on Front Street in Eagle," Plumb said. "And the roadway in between Eagle and Eagle Village, which goes upriver, along the river, was entirely covered with ice and water. And there were some structures too that were surrounded by ice and water.".
The water receded quickly at Eagle on Saturday, leaving behind blocks of ice.
" As of Sunday, the roadway in between Eagle and Eagle Village was still blockaded… … due to stranded huge ice portions," Plumb stated.
Plumb said the big volume of water ice launched downstream of Eagle and continued towards Circle-- what he described as "80 to 90 miles of bank-to-bank ice running down the river.".
Plumb stated the ice jammed past Circle, triggering water to rise dramatically in the neighborhood Saturday night. Circle is located about 160 miles northeast of Fairbanks, with a population around 75.
" Reports of about a 10-foot increase in 30 minutes in Circle Saturday night," Plumb said. "Nearly all of the houses and structures in Circle were affected and flooded, and initial quotes indicate this might be near record flooding.".
Communications were down in Circle on Sunday, however according to Alaska State Troopers all Circle homeowners are represented, and nobody was injured.
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Flooding damage visible in Circle, throughout an aerial study by a National Weather Service River Watch Team on Sunday. (National Weather Service Fairbanks).
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" We are distressed to see the damages from the ice jam flooding in Circle over the weekend. Our thoughts go out to those that have actually lost their homes or residential or commercial property during this devastating flood," tweeted the National Weather Service. (National Weather Service Fairbanks).
The jam below Circle launched Sunday, leaving locations of standing water, ice flows and a lot of damaged houses and other structures-- some of them lifted off their foundations.
After releasing at Circle, the rise of water and ice moved downstream previous Fort Yukon where it jammed once again, causing flooding that began Sunday night.
Plumb said the large surge of ice and water is anticipated to continue to trigger problems as it lowers the Yukon River and hits stronger ice. The next neighborhoods in line are Beaver, Stevens Village and Rampart. After causing high water at Manley Hot Springs over the weekend, ice went out on the Tanana River all the way to its confluence with the Yukon at the town of Tanana.
Jeremy Zidek, a representative for the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said a river watch group flew into Circle. He credits locals with good community preparation and response.
" People were able to move back and get to greater ground," Zidek said. There's no immediate shelter needs in Circle at this time.
The state is aiding with fundamental requirements, including remediation of electrical energy.
" The state Emergency Operations Center has been dealing with the Tanana Chiefs Conference to get some generators out there, and we've likewise been speaking with folks with the Alaska Energy Authority and others to see what we can do to restore the power," Zidek stated.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy has provided a disaster statement to aid with flood-related costs. According to Zidek, it up until now covers Circle and Eagle on the Yukon, Crooked Creek on the Kuskowkim River and Glennallen, where there's been heavy snow melt run off into Moose Creek.
" We've seen a number of buildings that have water in it, cars and trucks that have been flooded," Zidek said.
Zidek stated an emergency situation management professional has actually been dispatched to Glenallen, and a regional incident management group has actually been activated. Alaska Department of Transportation spokesperson John Perreault stated employees are on website to mitigate impacts along the Glenn Highway.
" There's water up along the sides of the highway all along from Mile 157 all the method into Glennallen," he stated. "Right around that milepost 185 to 187 around Glennallen there are either pilot vehicle or flagging operations.".
Perreault stated, as of Sunday, there was some water over the highway in Glennallen at about mile 185, however the roadway stayed open.
Dan Bross, KUAC - Fairbanks.
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Dan Bross is a press reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
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