westy sink-water pump problem

yoiks! forgot to drain our '82 westy's sink-water tank when moved from tepid calif. to snowy wash. st. and had a big block of ice in there until the ice began melting on its own. the sink-water tank is now drained...but i get only silence when i turn-on the faucet in the sink. does the pump work if it is not submerged in water? the fuses are all ok. wonder if my gaffe was curtains for the sink-water pump (which, as most of you know, resides inside the plastic water tank which serves the sink). any thoughts appreciated. art, '82 westy, spokane