Trouble in Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas

I've read some commentary that there will be more reported deaths. Roads and bridges are washed out.

I wanted to say something about this on BPL, but I'm glad someone else has already done it. I've watched several news reports, and reporters are spinning it like camping by the river is "the thing to do" and that "everyone does it".

It's very very sad to see this happen, but it could have been prevented. It rained 7.5 inches. Basically, it rained a LOT, and these people were still camped by the river. I just wish they would have been educated about the dangers of flash flooding. My prayers go out to the families of those lost. This should be a wake-up call for many hikers who aren't already careful.

14 dead, children among them.

I guess this was an established campground with cabins and trailer hook-ups. So people assumed it was safe. Terrible tragedy…

I am from the area and it is an established camprground. It is right by the creek which is normally small. The reports I have heard say that the river crested at 20 feet. It went from 3 feet to 20 feet in a short time. I have also heard that RVs were washed into the river. In additition to the established campground witihin Albert Pike there is also many places along the creeks and rivers in the area that people camp. There are countless spots on the side of the road right next to the water that is used for camping. I will not be suprised if the count goes up from 12. There are so many roads and camping areas around there that is will be a while before we really know how many people were there. It is a very rural area and cell reception is almost non-existent.

I've heard that there may be 50 or more people missing. Let's hope not, it's already terrible. There was mention that 10 inches of rain was concentrated in an area.

Here is the nearest USGS water gauge.

http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?07360200

I was there 2 weeks ago. It is my favorite place to hike and I always camp close to the water. I hope that no others were killed.

Dead now up to 16

http://arkansasmatters.com/news-fulltext/?nxd_id=321545

http://www.facebook.com/KARK4#!/KARK4?v=wall

"A check of the river guage at Langley on the Little Missouri indicates the river rose from a level of 3.81ft. at 2a.m. to a level of 23.39ft. at 5:30a.m."

Heard on NPR tonight one couple rammed/jammed their pickup between 2 trees facing upstream I guess and rode it out in water up to their chests in the truck-bed holding onto ropes. The pickup was reportedly bucking a little but held.

Amazingly creative.

Those mountains run east – west. When it pours like that, the whole range acts as a gigantic ditch. Its my favorite part of the world and I've seen it in many fashions. The standard 3 to 4 foot range is lazy and awesome. The ten foot range is impressive. The twenty foot range is a spectacle I'd only care to see from one of the nearby mountain tops.

You'll read reports that the land was dry – that land is never dry.

Knowing those campgrounds, its hard to imagine escaping that beast except by way of superb knowledge of terrain and God.

The lucky ones got away.

Sad,

Jack

Just found out one of the victims was a woman who worked for my organization (not someone I knew personally). She was camping with her granddaughter at the Albert Pike campground. Both perished.

Truly sad.

Living in Oregon and being someone who works outdoors and travels in fast changing conditions I am a real fan of Radar like Accuweather and I often base activities on rainskips. But when I'm actually out in the Cascades all this info vanishes. Is there a way to keep up via radio or otherwise? Here is a related blow by blow of what went down in Arkansas in relation to radar.
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/12/downpours-steep-hills-sleeping-campers-horror/?scp=2&sq=flood%20warning&st=cse

In some valleys there is no relying on a radio signal. The Forest Service should do their job and have people that can evacuate vulnerable (not all) campgrounds when flash flood warnings are issued. This area had a flash flood watch for nearly two days prior.

It is simply poor emergency management or no emergency management. Federal law should be changed.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_arkansas_flooding;_ylt=AtrG5f8VyAMsJbKeneN6DQms0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNvYm4wdTA2BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwNjE1L3VzX2Fya2Fuc2FzX2Zsb29kaW5nBGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDNARwb3MDMQRwdANob21lX2Nva2UEc2VjA3luX2hlYWRsaW5lX2xpc3QEc2xrA2Fya2ZvcmVjYXN0ZQ–

I respectfully disagree with you John. The Forest Service is not there to provide nanny service for every camper in a National Forest. I bet every one of us on here have wet camped adjacent to a stream w/ flash flood potential. Hell, I've camped in flash floods in the Ouachitas near streams. I didn't sleep much that night either. Terrible tragedies like these elicit a knee jerk reaction that there needs to be more big brother oversight to protect. I disagree. These tragedies should remind and educate each one of us who camps, hikes, etc. that mother nature wins every time and if we cooperate with her she throws a bone or two. I think camping in established campgrounds allows you to let your guard down and assume all is well. I wouldn't be surprised if there were warnings about flash flooding posted at the campground. I was on the Buffalo river a few weeks back and one of the parking areas clearly posted a sign stating "Area Floods, Do not Leave Vehicles Overnight". What did I see each morning I ran through there? The same SUV parked in the same place. Per NOAA: "Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm related hazard" Get educated and watch the conditions around you. Blame won't bring any of these people back, nor will another law.

I think there may be a change, whether this campground is turned into a state park (their state parks have a ranger on site as the article stated) or other. We will see.