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

A tactical evacuation took place early Saturday morning in southwest Old Crow, but hours later, residents were able to return home.

Flood risk in Old Crow diminishes, but evacuation alert remains in effect

Caitrin Pilkington · CBC News ·
Floodwaters rise over the banks of a community.
Floodwaters rose in Old Crow, Yukon, in the early morning of Saturday, May 24. (Robert Kyikavichik/Facebook)

People living in southwest Old Crow who were evacuated due to flooding early Saturday morning have returned home as water levels decreased through the day.

Residents in the Yukon community were evacuated at 5:30 a.m. after water levels on the Porcupine River rose by over 5.5 metres in 24 hours. According to a social media update from Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation (VGFN), flooding started on the southwest side of town at about 3:30 a.m. Saturday.

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

While officials did not issue a mandatory evacuation order, a spokesperson for the the Yukon government's Emergency Management Team (EMO) said emergency responders helped people leave quickly as part of a "tactical evacuation" as floodwaters rose. 

Just hours later, as waters receded, residents were able to return. An evacuation alert remains in effect for people living in zones 1, 2 and 3. 

Officials reported that a 10-kilometre-long ice jam had formed over Friday night, with little to no movement through the morning. But by Saturday afternoon, they reported the risk of ice jam flooding had diminished.

A satellite image of a small community with certain areas outlined and numbered.
An evacuation order was issued for Zone 1 of Old Crow, Yukon, on May 24 due to flood risk. Later in the day, the order was rolled back to an evacuation alert for zones 1, 2 and 3. (Government of Yukon)

"The risk of flooding from snowmelt upriver will be continuously reassessed over the next few days," read an update posted to social media from VGFN and EMO. "River Watch will continue in zone 1 throughout the night."

Regular flights to Old Crow are set to resume on Sunday morning, but the Dump Road remains closed due to flooding. Residents are also being asked to conserve water as flooding in the lagoon area may reduce sewage pickups over the next few days.

Image of Yukon government officials looking at screens in an office posted to social media.
The Emergency Co-ordination Centre was activated on Friday, May 23 as flood risk intensified in Old Crow, Yukon. By late Saturday afternoon, the risk had diminished. (Yukon Protective Services)

"Snow is still melting, so water levels will stay high but are not expected to lead to flooding in Old Crow," the update continued.

VGFN's River Watchers are continuing to actively assess and track the progress of ice on the river, along with the Yukon government's EMO team.

Officials say updates will be posted on the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation's Facebook page and on the territorial government's website. 

Corrections

  • A previous version of this story stated that an evacuation order was issued in Old Crow, Yukon on Saturday morning for zone 1 residents. In fact, residents were evacuated as part of a tactical evacuation without an order being issued. The headline and body of the story have been updated to reflect this.
    May 25, 2025 12:33 PM EDT

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Caitrin Pilkington

Caitrin Pilkington is a reporter with CBC North in Whitehorse. She previously worked for Cabin Radio in Yellowknife. She can be reached at caitrin.pilkington@cbc.ca.

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