Old Crow, Yukon, residents evacuated to local school return home as flood risk decreases

People surviving successful southwest Old Crow who were evacuated owed to flooding early Saturday greeting person returned location arsenic h2o levels decreased done the day.

Residents successful the Yukon assemblage were evacuated astatine 5:30 a.m. aft h2o levels connected the Porcupine River roseate by implicit 5.5 metres successful 24 hours. According to a societal media update from Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation (VGFN), flooding started connected the southwest broadside of municipality astatine about 3:30 a.m. Saturday.

Community members successful affected areas moved to Chief Zzeh Gittlit school.

While officials did not contented a mandatory evacuation order, a spokesperson for the the Yukon government's Emergency Management Team (EMO) said exigency responders helped radical permission rapidly arsenic portion of a "tactical evacuation" arsenic floodwaters rose. 

Just hours later, arsenic waters receded, residents were capable to return. An evacuation alert remains successful effect for radical surviving successful zones 1, 2 and 3. 

Officials reported that a 10-kilometre-long ice jam had formed implicit Friday night, with small to nary question done the morning. But by Saturday afternoon, they reported the hazard of crystal jam flooding had diminished.

"The hazard of flooding from snowmelt upriver volition beryllium continuously reassessed implicit the adjacent fewer days," work an update posted to societal media from VGFN and EMO. "River Watch volition proceed successful portion 1 passim the night."

Regular flights to Old Crow are acceptable to resume connected Sunday morning, but the Dump Road remains closed owed to flooding. Residents are besides being asked to conserve h2o arsenic flooding successful the lagoon country whitethorn trim sewage pickups implicit the adjacent fewer days.

"Snow is inactive melting, truthful h2o levels volition enactment precocious but are not expected to pb to flooding successful Old Crow," the update continued.

VGFN's River Watchers are continuing to actively assess and track the advancement of crystal connected the river, on with the Yukon government's EMO team.

Officials accidental updates volition beryllium posted connected the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation's Facebook page and connected the territorial government's website.