Flooding on the Yukon River has caused significant damage in the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve gateway communities of Eagle and Eagle Village in northeastern Alaska. Flood waters are being driven by a combination of higher than usual snow pack (up to 150% of normal), higher than usual ice formation on the river (up to 140% of normal) and several days of unseasonably warm weather which caused rapid melting and ice movement downstream on the Yukon. Eagle Village, about 3-4 miles from the NPS field headquarters in Eagle, has seen many of its buildings damaged or destroyed by flooding. Within Eagle, at least two employee homes have had water damage and one of them had water up to the second story. An estimated 10 homes in Eagle had been damaged or destroyed, and an estimated 30 of the area's 125 residents were homeless as of 5/6/09. “We’re concerned about our neighbors and will be seeing how we can best help out,” said Greg Dudgeon, superintendent at Yukon-Charley Rivers.
Water levels continue to be high and substantial amounts of ice choke the river. The National Park Service recommends waiting for break-up to pass before entering the Preserve. All visitors are strongly advised to use caution if entering the Preserve at this time.
Due to the high volume of incoming calls, the National Park Service requests that calls be limited to people with family in Eagle. Once break-up is over and the water recedes we will resume regular hours and services. Please check this website for further updates.
For more information about the spring breakup floods from the State of Alaska, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management visit, http://www.ready.alaska.gov
Press Releases:
May 7, 2009
The water levels along the Yukon River in Eagle, Alaska, have dropped since they rose again Wednesday evening, and the flood warning for the community has been cancelled. The NPS incident management team continued with the cleanup of NPS facilities in Eagle and began checking facilities in the preserve to determine the full extent of damage.
May 6, 2009
Emergency response operations by the National Park Service continued in Eagle today as residents kept a wary eye on the Yukon River and the icy waters which slammed into the town earlier this week.
May 5, 2009
Flooding on the Yukon River has caused significant damage in the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve gateway communities of Eagle and Eagle Village in northeastern Alaska, including losses to employee homes, and has brought the evacuation this afternoon of at least one family living near the National Park Service unit.
