Released February 22, 2011
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – When spring and summer storms begin, floodwaters can rise within hours, making preparedness all the more important, said Deborah Tootle, associate professor of community and economic development, for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
Spring 2011 flood outlook
"The National Weather Service’s spring flooding outlook for the part of the Mississippi south of St. Louis shows the chance of flooding to be low, unlike the upper Mississippi, where there’s an above-average chance for spring flooding thanks to heavy autumn rain and snowpack," she said.
However, locally heavy rains can produce deadly flooding in a very short time. Last June, 16 people were killed when nearly 8 inches of rain swelled the Little Missouri River from 3 feet to 23.5 feet overnight, flooding the Albert Pike campground in the western part of the state.
"Being aware of your surroundings and knowing what to do is all part of being prepared," Tootle said.
A PDF for "Be Aware and Prepare: Flooding in Arkansas," can be found online at http://www.uaex.edu/news/pressroom/storm_recovery/BeAware_Flooding.pdf.
For more information on emergency preparedness and recovery, see the Disaster Response Handbook online at http://www.aragriculture.org/disaster/ or contact your county extension office. Storm recovery resources are also available at: http://www.uaex.edu/news/pressroom/storm_recovery/.
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University of Arkansas, http://www.uaex.edu/news/february2011/0222Disaster_Floods.htm
Contact: Contact: Mary Hightower, (501) 671-2126, mhightower@uaex.edu
