 In May 2013, Galena suffered a freak catastrophic flood when the spring breakup on the Yukon River caused an ice jam approximately 20 miles downstream, backing up the river and affecting 90% of homes in the city.This flood was on the scale of a flood never seen before by Galena residents.In the part of town closest to the river, houses were submerged to the roofs in water, and properties on higher ground suffered damage also.