Flash Flood in Woodruff County, Arkansas

Rainfall measured 9.75 inches 4 miles west of Cotton Plant, 9.70 inches at Howell, 7.50 inches at Augusta, and 7.45 inches at McCrory. About 40 homes flooded around Augusta, Patterson, and McCrory, and about 26 homes and businesses flooded around Cotton Plant. Arkansas 145 and numerous county roads were flooded, as were farm fields. The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service reported that 15,000 acres of soybeans were flooded in the county.

A weak front in the state helped to spark thunderstorms on the 28th and 29th. Isolated severe weather occurred in the southern part of the state on the afternoon of the 28th. During the evening of the 28th, the front moved slightly back to the north, settling across the middle of the state. During the wee hours of the 29th, very heavy rain began in parts of eastern Arkansas. This rain continued for much of the morning on the 29th as storms repeatedly traveled along the frontal boundary. Rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches were common in parts of eastern Arkansas, and some totals were in the 8 to 10 inch range. Approximately 35,000 acres of soybeans, corn, and rice were flooded in Prairie, Woodruff, and Monroe counties. Sorghum and winter wheat suffered smaller losses.

Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe declared the following counties eligible for public assistance: Jackson, Monroe, Prairie, and Woodruff. In addition, the governor declared the following counties eligible for individual assistance: Monroe and Woodruff. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack declared an agricultural disaster in the following counties: Independence, Jackson, Lonoke, Monroe, Prairie, White, and Woodruff.