Horrible Flood, Western AR. My daugter was planning to camp there....

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   donotfearposted 14 years ago

   16 Dead In Montgomery County Flash Floods
   It's a place called Albert Pike. Hundreds of folks go there for recreation....I've been several times.  Flash flood took everything way.  Link here:
   http://arklatexhomepage.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=110235
   
   
   What's scary is that my daughter was planning to camp there this week...was supposed to go there yesterday right before the actual flood, taking my grandson with her. The flash flood took place , evidently, overnight. They would have been camped right along the river, like everyone else. Things kept happening to postpone the trip. Her vehicle started having issues, among other delays. Thank God she never went.  She's just shaking her head in wonder.  They would have been in this flood.
   
   Please pray for these folks families. My daughter knew a couple of families who were there.....

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      susanlangposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      So sad at the loss of lives. Even I have a close friend who lost their sister in that sudden flood. My goodness, their still finding bodies. My heart and prayers go out to everyone.
      
      Annette.. I'm sure your daughter is so shaken by the near mishap she may need some time to recover. Give her my best wishes and thank God she didn't go!
      
      Hugs and good thoughts,
      
      Susan

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   Cagsilposted 14 years ago

   Pass along positive thoughts and saddened by the loss of life.
   
   As for your daughter, hopefully she picks a different location.

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   Michael Willisposted 14 years ago

   This disaster has been all everyone here has talked about all day. So far 16 confirmed dead and over 40 still missing. The Coast Guard has been dispatched and working recovery.
   
   Albert Pike Campgrounds is a very beautiful place for camping and hiking.  It is located in a valley between mountains and when heavy rains come, the river rises extremely fast.
   
   But this time, wow...20 foot rise from normal level. That was really fast. Reports are that it was the speed of the rushing water that was so destructive. Cabins were destroyed and cars flowed down stream.
   
   Hopefully more survivors will be found, but time is running out. This is a sad time for many who were on vacation.

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      donotfearposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Let us know if there's any more news Michael. I'm in Washington state right now on vacation so I can't get local news....

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         Michael Willisposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I will do that. Glad to hear your daughter didn't make that trip there.

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         susanlangposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Your welcome Annette..and thank you for calling me from the airport!

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            donotfearposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            You're welcome!

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   KCC Big Countryposted 14 years ago

   Glad to know your daughter didn't go.  It gives me goosebumps when I hear stories like that where there are all kinds of delays only to learn that the delays probably saved their lives.  I tend to look at delays differently after reminders like this.  What if every delay was simply so that a sequence of events could be prevented. 

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      donotfearposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      She was pretty shook up about it. She would have been camping in the tent area.....likely anywhere along the river. It's very primitive. She & my grandson would have been directly in the path of the flood.

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   SomewayOuttaHereposted 14 years ago

   Wow!  my thoughts go out to all of those impacted by this. Those flash floods are really devastating acts of nature! I really need to listen, watch or read the news again.

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   Michael Willisposted 14 years ago

   The death count has risen to 18 as a mother and child was discovered Friday late. 80 campers have been rescued and 23 are still unaccounted for.
   News information is slowly being released as the relatives of the tragedy are being notified first.

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      donotfearposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Do you know where the rescued campers were found? Were they clinging to trees, or did they make it up into the rocky crevices? I haven't been there in so long I've just about forgotten the exact terrain. From what I understand, this was the MAIN campground, where all the cabins are together, near the entrance?  I'm really feeling freaked out about this.

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         Michael Willisposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Some climbed the rocks and some hung onto trees. One man had a small youth group and he got them out at the beginning of the flooding. Hopefully there will be reports or more found today, but...the more time goes by.....it is really horrific.

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            Art 4 Lifeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            ..I am so thankful that your daughter did not camp there, Annette.... There were alot of people in this area that took their horses down there to help look for survivors and recover the deceased. I was horrified to hear of it...I am praying for those that have lost loved ones...it was such a tragedy...hard to comprehend that the water could raise up that high in a matter of hours...it must have been like a tidal wave....and then to hit when everyone was asleep..it was just so horrible.

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               susanlangposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               I was thinking a tidal wave rush of water as well, Art 4 Life.

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               donotfearposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Hey Jan, she even had it on her FB page posted on Wednesday about her change in plans...saying"it's not Albert Pike but the lake will do...."

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   Michael Willisposted 14 years ago

   The number of missing has been dropped to 3 persons. Some of the registered guest were not at the campground.
   I talked to a cousin who lives closer by the area and he said the water speed was estimated around 100 mph. He said it looked more like a tornado had ripped the area. There is even asphalt ripped off of highway.

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   Michael Willisposted 14 years ago

   Here is a link to a photo slideshow on Yahoo News.
   http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow … 745755.jpg
   
   The thing to know about the Little Missouri River in this area is that is is very small and usually around only 3 feet deep. The river rose 20 feet in 4 hours to 23 feet during the flooding. It is located in a valley surrounded by Mountains.
   
   And here is one pic downstream from the campground at a US Highway bridge.
   

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   manlypoetrymanposted 14 years ago

   Terrible...!! Glad that you're daughter had not made it there yet when this occurred. (and vacation time had just started...as Michael pointed out.) Michael...100 miles an hour...on a river? So unreal. Terrible, Terrible news. My heart goes out to the tragic loss of life in Arkansas.

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    Michael Willisposted 14 years ago

    This is what the Little Missouri River at Albert Pike normally looks like:
    
    
    
    This was Friday after the Flood:
    
    

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    manlypoetrymanposted 14 years ago

    Oh!

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       oscillationatendposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       My heart goes out to them.
       
       I shall send some positive vibes tonight before I sleep.
       
       

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