Flash Flood in Monroe County, Arkansas

Rainfall measured 7.25 inches 6 miles southwest of Brinkley, while Brinkley collected 7.20 inches of rain. About 40 houses were flooded in Brinkley, primarily in the Snow Addition. Several houses had to be evacuated in the Zent area as well. The Brinkley airport flooded, as did some of the hangars. Parts of U.S. 49, U.S. 70, Arkansas 86, Arkansas 238, and Arkansas 302 flooded, along with numerous county roads. Farm fields were flooded, as well. The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service reported that 15,000 acres of rice, soybeans, and corn 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.