FAIRPORT HARBOR, Ohio -- The ice jam on the Grand River finally broke free Wednesday in Fairport Harbor.

The Coast Guard Ice Cutter Neah Bay had been trying to break up the ice chunks all morning. It finally started flowing at about 12:30 p.m. At one time there were 3-to-5-foot blocks of ice sticking up out of the river.

Officials hope that will ease flooding concerns.

Lake County Emergency Management officials issued a reverse 911 call Tuesday night, warning residents of a strong possibility of flooding.

They said water had been coming from down river and was pooling in residents' yards, thus prompting the evacuation.

Residents said one minute the river is calm and the next it has risen 5 feet. An e-mail to newsnet5.com said that the Western Reserve Yacht Club was under 2 feet of water, the Grand River Yacht Club property was flooded and the Hidden Harbor Marina had water over its banks.