Saranac River Ice Jam Triggers Evacuations in New York

Flooding concerns prompt precautionary evacuations in Morrisonville area

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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An ice jam along the Saranac River in New York's North Country triggered evacuations on Tuesday morning as a precautionary measure. Clinton County Emergency Services evacuated 13 people from 5 homes in the Morrisonville area due to concerns about potential flooding from the ice jam.

Why it matters

Ice jams on rivers can lead to sudden and dangerous flooding, so local authorities acted quickly to evacuate residents in the Morrisonville area as a safety precaution. The Saranac River is a major waterway in the North Country region, and any flooding concerns must be taken seriously to protect local communities.

The details

The ice jam formed early Tuesday morning along the Saranac River, causing the water level to rise. While the water has remained within the river's banks so far, Clinton County Emergency Services evacuated 13 people from 5 homes in the Ladue and River streets area of Morrisonville as a precautionary measure. The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning for the region due to the ice jam.

  • The ice jam formed early Tuesday morning (March 10, 2026).
  • Evacuations were ordered on Tuesday morning (March 10, 2026).
  • The Flash Flood Warning remains in effect until 1 p.m. on Tuesday (March 10, 2026).

The players

Eric Day

The Clinton County Emergency Services Director, who ordered the evacuations and is monitoring the situation.

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What they’re saying

“If this thing moves downstream, there's very little belief that it will impact– it certainly won't impact the city of Plattsburgh. But any other properties that are occupied, lands downstream from here– it's mostly wooded area.”

— Eric Day, Clinton County Emergency Services Director (WCAX)

What’s next

The ideal situation would be for the ice jam to move downstream, where the river is open and clear, alleviating flooding concerns in the Morrisonville area. Authorities will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates.

The takeaway

This ice jam incident highlights the importance of local emergency services being proactive and evacuating residents when there are serious flooding concerns, even as a precautionary measure. It also underscores the potential risks that ice jams can pose to communities located along major rivers in the North Country region.