Flooding in Tanana Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Cynthia Erickson.

The National Weather Service just issued a new flood warning along the Yukon River, near Russian Mission, as the break-up flooding continues to make its way down the river this weekend.

A pilot has spotted an ice jam about 25 miles downstream from the Yup’ik village of roughly 300 people, the Weather Service reports. The problem is that a rush of ice and water is headed for the area, so unless the ice jam breaks, expect moderate flooding in the village.

Meantime, Gov. Sarah Palin was in Tanana yesterday to check out the flooding aftermath there, according to the state.

Here’s the latest update from the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management:

-- A River Watch team is in Saint Mary’s to conduct aerial observations from Holy Cross to the mouth of the Yukon River. Severe Ice Jam flooding is still a concern for stretches of the lower Yukon.
-- The Village Public Safety Officer in Tanana reports that flood waters have receded and that repatriation of evacuees may be possible in the next few days.
-- A life safety assessment team is deployed along the Middle Yukon to rivers to conduct life safety assessments, collect damage assessments, and provide coordination of the flood response operations. The teams identified several immediate needs and the SECC is working with response partners to address these issues. The team is made up of representatives from the Tanana Chiefs Conference, DHSS, Red Cross and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHS&EM).
-- The Kuskokwim DHS&EM life safety assessment team has completed its assessment and returned to Anchorage Saturday evening.
-- The SECC has filled emergency requests from Tanana and Stevens Village. Items requested and delivered include water, food, fuel, emergency power supplies, sanitation/hygiene supplies, a satellite phone, cots/sleeping bags, dog food, radios, and pumping equipment.
-- DHS&EM personnel have been embedded with The Tanana Chiefs Conference in Fairbanks to coordinate sheltering and emergency needs of evacuees from Tanana and Stevens.
-- A Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Nurse Practitioner is in Eagle.
-- The DHS&EM incident management team in Eagle reports that availability of food, water, fuel, health care, shelter and temporary power has stabilized in the Village and City of Eagle. A water purifications system and storage tank is providing potable water in Eagle. The purifications system is to remain in Eagle until DEC clears local well water for use.
-- The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is constructing a temporary access road to provide emergency vehicle access to New Eagle Village. The detour will be about 4,500-feet long from the Eagle airport, bypass the ice jam, and connect with Mission Road. The DOT anticipates completion by weeks end.
-- 19 evacuees from Kwethluk are being sheltered at the Bethel Head Start facility with support from the Alaska Council of Village Presidents. Kwethluk’s Incident Management Team plans to repatriate evacuees when the road from the airport is open and water returns to normal levels.
-- New photos and information are available at ready.alaska.gov.
-- Alaska Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (AKVOAD) and Adventist Community Services (ACS) established donation collection points in Anchorage and Eagle River. For more information call the SECC AKVOAD desk 907-428-7131.
-- Find National Weather Service River Forecast Center river updates at www.aprfc.arh.noaa.gov.