Flood risk subsides and alert ends after ice breaks up on rivers near Fort McMurray
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DRAPER – An evacuation alert for a community near Fort McMurray in northern Alberta has been lifted after officials say ice has broken up on the Clearwater and Athabasca rivers.
Late last month, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo warned that an ice jam on the Athabasca River near Fort McMurray was causing water levels along the Clearwater River to rise.
Everyone in Draper, which has a population of about 140 people, was told to be prepared to leave on short notice due to increased overland flooding.
But on Thursday the municipality, which includes Fort McMurray, said the alert for Draper was lifted and that there is no longer a significant risk of ice jams.
A news release from the municipality says water rose briefly on the Clearwater River on Wednesday as an ice jam upstream of Fort McMurray broke free, but it says levels then fell quickly after the small jam at the mouth of the river released.
The news release warns that several ice runs are still expected to pass through in the next few days, and while isn’t a concern, it says people should still keep a safe distance from riverbanks.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 7, 2026.