The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has escalated its response for the community of Draper, issuing a formal Evacuation Alert Tuesday after an ice jam on the Clearwater River pushed water levels to dangerous levels.
Residents in Draper do not have to leave at this time, but must be prepared to evacuate on short notice. Water levels are threatening access on Garden Lane and River Bend Close the main routes in and out of the neighbourhood.
What's Causing This
Every spring, the Fort McMurray region braces for river breakup season the period when ice on the Clearwater, Athabasca, and Christina rivers begins to melt and fracture. As chunks of ice move downstream, they can pile up at bends, bridges, or confluences, blocking flow and forcing water levels to rise rapidly upstream. Conditions can escalate with little warning.
This year's breakup has been active across multiple waterways. A separate ice jam approximately 20 kilometres long has formed roughly 7 kilometres upstream from the Thickwood golf course on the Athabasca River and is also being closely monitored. Provincial river forecasters have issued an ice jam watch for the region, and the RMWB had cautioned as recently as Monday that conditions could change rapidly as temperatures warm.
The Fort McMurray area has experienced severe ice jam flooding before. In April 2020, a catastrophic jam on the Athabasca forced thousands of residents from their homes and caused widespread damage across the lower townsite and Draper a reminder of how fast the situation can deteriorate.
What Residents in Draper Need to Do Now
An Evacuation Alert means leave may come with little notice. The RMWB's direction:
Be ready to evacuate immediately if ordered
Avoid the river area
Have a 72-hour emergency kit packed and ready
Monitor rmwb.ca/alerts for updates
Free sandbags and materials are available at the RMWB Satellite Yard at 28 Silin Forest Road. The area is fenced and gated call Pulse to arrange access.
Stay Informed
The RMWB is updating the situation in real time at rmwb.ca/alerts and rmwb.ca/riverbreakup. Albertans can also download the Alberta Emergency Alert app on the App Store or Google Play, or follow @AB_EmergAlert on X.
Sources: Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo — River Breakup Updates, April 28, 2026 https://www.rmwb.ca/en/fire-and-emergency-services/river-breakup.aspx
Alberta Emergency Alert, April 28, 2026 https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-emergency-alert.aspx
