RCMP officers were called to the assistance of Ross River residents Wednesday afternoon after the Pelly River flooded its banks and threatened their homes.

Faro Cpl. Ryan Hack said early this afternoon officers were notified by a Ross River resident living in the low-lying area near the river who noticed the water rising and contacted the Ross River detachment for assistance.

Hack, who was in the village on other business along with another Faro RCMP officer, responded along with the three Ross River officers.

He said officers assisted 10 people from their homes, but boats were not required.

Whether the homes were damaged by the flood waters, Hack said he was not in a position to say.

"There was an ice jam on the Pelly River at Ross River that caused the river to come up very quickly and overflow the banks,” he said.

The ice jammed up at the ferry crossing, where there is a natural choke point in the river, he added.

The jam let go, and water began receding Wednesday evening, and has fallen three quarters of a metre (2.5 feet), George Maratos, an Emergency Measures Organization spokesman, said this afternoon.

"The water level has dropped significantly,” he said. "I mean, it is hard to say with ice jams, but it looks like the worst is over.”

Maratos said emergency measures officials did not receive any requests to provide lodging for the displaced Ross River residents, and they've not yet received any information regarding whether the flood waters damaged homes, and to what extend.

Similarly, he said, they don't have any information regarding the extent of flood damage to homes in the Rock Creek subdivision next to the Klondike River, south of Dawson City.

Maratos said Rock Creek residents were reminded in person on May 6 about the risk of flooding.

The ice began jamming on the Klondike in front of the subdivision Tuesday afternoon, causing the water to rise, he pointed out.

Maratos said an emergency response management team was formed and remains in place but there was never an official evacuation order, though water did flow into the community.

The jam let go at 6:10 Wednesday evening at and the water level had dropped by 1.2 metres (four feet) by midnight, he said.

Maratos said there is still a fair amount of ice flowing down the river, so there is still the potential for more ice jams.

"Most of the (Rock Creek) homes were impacted somewhat,” he said, noting some of them just had water in their yards

"But seven homes were more significantly impacted.”

Maratos said there's been no assessment of the damage, nor a determination whether funding assistance will be required for residents under the flood relief program.

He said the Yukon River also broke up in front of Dawson City just after 6 p.m. yesterday (see coverage).