Ice jam causes flooding in Peters Creek area

An ice jam is causing flooding in the Peters Creek area.

A National Weather Service employee spotted an ice jam that's causing some minor flooding northwest of the Starner Street bridge, along Peters Creek.

"We have water running down the street," said Amy Demboski, the Anchorage Assembly member for the area. "In parts, it's not terrible, but when I got out of my car, I was in about six inches of water in the middle of the street."

A Weather Service advisory Monday evening said the creek is at or just over the bank, and some water is over Aurora Borealis Road. The advisory is in effect until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday.

Residents Monday night were trying to channel the water using heavy equipment.

Demoboski said the Municipality of Anchorage and the Alaska Department of Transportation are trying to coordinate a response.

"This has happened over the last 40 years,” said Demboski. "This has happened a handful of times, and at times we've gotten money from the state to do some blasting and open up the ice jams that occur on this particular creek. It's not frequent, but when it happens obviously, people's homes are affected. We have water all the way up to homes here on Aurora Borealis."

There were no reports Monday night of water going into any homes, although Demboski said one family on Starner Street has water in their garage.