Arkansas Flooding Update

At least 19 people have died (6 children and 13 adults) and one person is still missing after flood waters swept through Albert Pike Recreation Area early last Friday morning.  Before the system moved into Arkansas, it was responsible for significant flash flooding in parts of Texas where several people had to be rescued in Comal and Guadalupe Counties.  During the early morning hours on the 11th, rain was widespread through parts of southwest Arkansas.  As many as 200 to 300 people camping at the Albert Pike Recreaction Area were awakened to rapidly rising waters.  Several inches of rain fell per hour for several hours which caused water to flow rapidly down the hillsides, causing small streams and creeks to rise which eventually ran into the Little Missouri River.  The river crested just over 23 feet, which is the highest level since records began in 1988.    Here is a timeline of the river rising:




  Time                                      Stage (ft)
2:00 am                                         3.81
2:30 am                                         5.83
3:00 am                                         9.87
3:30 am                                        13.91
4:00 am                                        17.70
4:30 am                                        20.57
5:00 am                                        22.30
5:30 am                                        23.39
6:00 am                                        22.40
6:30 am                                        19.41

What made this such a dangerous situation is that the rain fell at night while most people were sleeping and the remoteness of the recreation area made it difficult to relay warning information.