Riverside Tragedy

**Pal334** · 06-11-2010, 04:56 PM

This post is not meant to be in any way critical, just a sort of lesson for us to learn or re learn. And shows that the unexpected can happen at any time. Although it is early in the "game" it appears that there is no real handle on how many were/ are missing. I think it emphasis what many here have advocated all along. [I]"Make sure someone knows where you are and have a plan for communication in the event of an emergency"[/I] Apparently there was no real advance warning that the flood would occur and it was a popular camping spot.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/11/ark...pt=T1&iref=BN1

CNN) -- At least 20 people died at an Arkansas campground after heavy rain and flash flooding, and many more could be trapped in the area, state authorities said.

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe said there's word from the Red Cross that there could have been as many as 300 people in the rugged Albert Pike campground area of western Arkansas, but he said there is no registration that would show the precise number.

Bill Sadler, a state police spokesman, said a search is on for people still trapped in the area, a relatively remote and rural region where cell phone service could be spotty.

Arkansas emergency management officials said that 36 people were missing. It wasn't immediately clear whether 30 rescues that authorities said had been carried out involved the same individuals.

"You know, it's never easy to approach one of these things where there are mass casualties," Sadler said. "But what makes it even more difficult is that you're in a very remote area. And you just can't get enough people in there quick enough to begin searching and trying to help."

Video: Gov.: Search and rescue mode

Video: 12 killed in Arkansas campground flood
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Video from the scene showed a river coursing through the valley. The floodwaters overturned vehicles, tore up asphalt, downed trees and crushed cabins.

A spokesman for St. Joseph's Mercy Health System in Hot Springs said that five flood victims were in stable condition there.

"The primary mission of the Arkansas State Police, working with local authorities right now, is to get the living out of the area and locate the dead," Sadler said.

He said two helicopters are working to locate and assist in rescuing survivors. Local authorities are providing search volunteers, and a temporary morgue has been set up.

Beebe said the Little Missouri River rose from about 3 feet Thursday night to more than 20 feet early Friday in the U.S. Forest Service campground.

"It was a very rapid flash flood that inundated that area," Beebe said. "It's an unmanned campground in terms of being a campground with all the amenities."

He said rescue crews on foot, in helicopters and in vehicles were combing the area. Law enforcement, National Guard and parks personnel were working on the search-and-rescue efforts.

U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Arkansas, said she's praying for those injured or trapped and praised the first responders at the scene.

"As Arkansans, we have experienced our share of severe weather. Through it all, our citizens remain strong and resilient. Again, my heartfelt condolences to everyone who has been affected by this tragic weather event. I will continue to be in contact with state and local officials to monitor the progress of the situation," she said in a statement.

Janice McRae, whose property sits adjacent to the campground, said she and her husband woke in the middle of the night to a knock on the door from a cabin owner. The sight of flooding and destruction caught her by surprise.

"It was raining, but we didn't know that there was going to be flooding, because we hadn't had much rain lately," she told CNN's Rick Sanchez. "The ground wasn't wet, wasn't saturated. We weren't worried about it."

McRae said she and her husband immediately found two young boys stranded alone on the roof of a flooded cabin and were able to rescue them.

She described people clutching to trees in pitch darkness as cars floated past them.

The county coroner said he is preparing for more possible deaths.

**Rick** · 06-11-2010, 05:50 PM

I read a report on this earlier today that said the water rose 8 feet an hour. I can sure see folks trying to save their vehicles and campers only to loose their life in a flash flood like that.

**crashdive123** · 06-11-2010, 07:08 PM

Flash floods are something to be mindful of. The speed at which they can happen is amazing - hence the term flash. When I lived in Hawaii, my roommate was from one of the other islands (Kauai). We used to go there quite often. There was one place that drew a lot of tourists called Slippery Slide. It was a natural water slide. Well sort of natural - during the filming of the movie South Pacific, concrete was poured to create a smoother slide. There were signs all over the place warning of flash floods. The mountain where the stream/waterfall came from had (it may still) the distinction of the world record rainfall. The locals warned that if it was raining in the mountains, do not go down into the canyon to ride the slide. Once you heard a rumble you had less than 30 seconds to get out of the canyon. The foliage and trees were ripped out of the canyon walls about 20 feet above the slide. People died there every year. I'm pretty sure it was closed to the public some time ago.

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 06-11-2010, 07:15 PM

Reminds me of a trip camping in my youth. I was the oldest child so I'd pitch a pup tent outside the cabover camper my family would be in. A storm came up and I was sound asleep, I am guessing about 9 yrs. old. Dad woke me as water was nearing my mouth and nose. I slept in the cab of the truck that night. I am cautious about where I pitch a tent now!