They Say That Breaking Up Is Hard To Do: Planning For Ice Jams This Spring

SHOULD WE BE PLANNING FOR BREAKUP?

On May 5th, 2009, the Yukon River wiped out Old Eagle Village on the Yukon. (Photo, National Weather Service) 

By Bruce Cain, Glennallen 

We have had record snowfall in the Copper Basin and it is still snow season.

We have had cold mornings and the snow has not moved out so it is still at record depths. This is April 15, which is the date historically that the Alaska Daily temperature chart jumps 20-40 degrees.

We could have severe breakup flooding.

I am wondering if we as a community should be thinking about ways to prepare for breakup flooding:

• Pre-staging boats or canoes near where roads will flood
• Moving vehicles to the other side of where flooding is known to occur
• Preclearing debris from and upstream from culverts
• Moving equipment and materials away from waterways.
• Thinking about where water will be running that it normally doesn’t run and clearing these areas.
• Talking to children and others about the dangers of fast moving flood waters.

Maybe FEMA or someone has a list they have prepared.

CLICK HERE:

FEMA INFORMATION ON PREPARING FOR FLOODING