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Story
May 25, 1956
The Nome Nugget
Nome, Nome County, Alaska
What is this article about?
In Alakanuk, Alaska, nearly 25% of the 200 villagers are afflicted with measles during floods from Yukon River ice jams. A schoolteacher cares for 44 patients in boats. Air Force bombing attempts to break jams partially succeed but face issues.
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Alakanuk Stricken
By Floods And
Measles Epidemic
ANCHORAGE, (P) Nearly one-fourth of the 200 population of the village of Alakanuk, 500 miles northwest of here on the ice-swollen Yukon river, have been stricken with measles, Civil Defense officials reported Wednesday.
A schoolteacher was reported caring for 44 measles patients, most of them living in boats where they are riding out high waters caused by numerous up-river ice jams.
An Air Force B29 dropped 23 bombs on a jam near the village before a malfunctioning bomb bay forced the plane to give up the mission with nine 500-pounders still aboard. The Alaska Command said it will be a few days before another flight can be made.
A previous aerial bombing caused the water to drop eight inches at Alakanuk but it rose again before Wednesday's futile effort.
Throughout the flood region, water is flowing out into the tundra above the jams, it was reported by Ed Fortier, Anchorage regional Civil Defense director.
The ice jams were described by Jack Emel, Alakanuk Civil Defense director, as tremendous. He said an aerial survey showed several jams upriver from the main jam and several of them were a thousand feet wide. He said water was overflowing the banks above the jam but was four feet below the bank on the other side of the jam.
By Floods And
Measles Epidemic
ANCHORAGE, (P) Nearly one-fourth of the 200 population of the village of Alakanuk, 500 miles northwest of here on the ice-swollen Yukon river, have been stricken with measles, Civil Defense officials reported Wednesday.
A schoolteacher was reported caring for 44 measles patients, most of them living in boats where they are riding out high waters caused by numerous up-river ice jams.
An Air Force B29 dropped 23 bombs on a jam near the village before a malfunctioning bomb bay forced the plane to give up the mission with nine 500-pounders still aboard. The Alaska Command said it will be a few days before another flight can be made.
A previous aerial bombing caused the water to drop eight inches at Alakanuk but it rose again before Wednesday's futile effort.
Throughout the flood region, water is flowing out into the tundra above the jams, it was reported by Ed Fortier, Anchorage regional Civil Defense director.
The ice jams were described by Jack Emel, Alakanuk Civil Defense director, as tremendous. He said an aerial survey showed several jams upriver from the main jam and several of them were a thousand feet wide. He said water was overflowing the banks above the jam but was four feet below the bank on the other side of the jam.
What sub-type of article is it?
Disaster
Survival
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Catastrophe
Misfortune
Survival
What keywords are associated?
Floods
Measles Epidemic
Ice Jams
Yukon River
Aerial Bombing
Civil Defense
Alaska
What entities or persons were involved?
Ed Fortier
Jack Emel
Where did it happen?
Alakanuk, On The Yukon River, 500 Miles Northwest Of Anchorage, Alaska
Story Details
Key Persons
Ed Fortier
Jack Emel
Location
Alakanuk, On The Yukon River, 500 Miles Northwest Of Anchorage, Alaska
Story Details
Nearly one-fourth of Alakanuk's 200 residents stricken with measles amid floods from ice jams; schoolteacher cares for 44 in boats; Air Force B-29 bombing partially reduces water but latest mission fails due to malfunction; multiple large jams reported upriver.