Flooding in Buckland reaches homes, cuts off access roads and airport

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - An ice jam that formed Wednesday evening on the Buckland River has flooded the village of Buckland, leaving the town without road and airport access according to reports from the River Observation Center and State Emergency Operations Center.

Buckland, which is 75 miles southeast of Kotzebue, is a village of about 500 residents. With water continuing to overflow the banks and the ice jam remaining in place, the National Weather Service out of Fairbanks has issued a flood warning for the area.

A Flood Warning has been issued for the village of Buckland along the Buckland River due to an ice jam. Water has inundated most of town with road access to the airport cut off by flood waters. Water levels are expected to remain high until the downstream ice jam clears. pic.twitter.com/i568zZirIw
— NWS Fairbanks (@NWSFairbanks) May 13, 2021

As a result of the flooding, many low-level structures could see flooding. The warning is in place until Saturday morning, with residents advised to take the necessary precautions to life and property.

A press release from the SEOC says electricity and the community water production and distribution system is working properly as of Thursday afternoon.

Flood 2021 Shannon Marjorie Melton
Posted by Kayden Iqitqiraq Tickett on Wednesday, May 12, 2021

According to the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management daily situation report, the borough, Buckland City, Buckland Tribe, and the Buckland School are working with the SEOC to coordinate flooding response.

The SEOC says it is in communication with the governor’s office, Department of Public Safety, Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska National Guard and other response partners.

Stay with the Alaska’s Weather Source Weather team for continuing coverage on this flooding and for up-to-the-minute weather information; download our weather app available for free in the app store.