ANCHORAGE, Alaska — River watch teams based in Aniak are currently flying up to Crooked Creek after recent reports that the ice jam on the Kuskokwim River may be breaking up.
The Alaska Department of Homeland Securityand Emergency Management says that ice moving slowly is a good indicator of the jam releasing.
This comes after flooding forced dozens of Crooked Creek residents to evacuate.
Officials say once that ice jam releases, it can be determined if communities down the river like Aniak, would be impactedby flooding.
Dozens living along the middle Kuskokwim River remain at nearby shelters after flooding forced them to evacuate.
Flood waters remain high at Crooked Creek with about 70 percent of the village underwater.
Officials with the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management say it's too early to say when they'll be able to return home. Officials say they have to first wait for the water to drop to normal levels to assess the damage, but disaster response teams are standing by.
