Water Continues to Rise in Arkansas

by Amy Judd | March 26, 2008 at 08:33 am

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The weather has turned sunnier and warmer in Arkansas today, but the water levels of the rivers and flooded areas continues to rise, as federal officials begin to gather their first damage assessments after the week-long floods. Hundreds of people are still affected by the massive amounts of water that has fallen on the state recently.

The White River is higher than it has been in a quarter century, flooding properties and farmland. The river is expected to crest early Friday at Clarendon at 6.5 feet above flood stage.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency collected reports Wednesday morning from field workers who fanned out the previous day to determine the scope of damage where the waters have receded.

"We are getting a snapshot of damages within a county," FEMA spokesman Bob Alvey said. "The idea is to get information to Gov. Mike Beebe quickly so he can proceed with further requests for federal assistance for infrastructure repairs and for help for individuals.

On Tuesday, flood waters near Des Arc reached homes and businesses and pressured levees along the White River. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning Tuesday morning for rural Prairie County north of Interstate 40 after spotters noticed the levee had "sand boils" — water passing under the earthen barrier and appearing on the side like a muddy spring. By the afternoon, 100 volunteers held back the flow by building sandbag barriers for the water to be held in, creating pressure to stem the tide.