Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Northwest Arkansas susceptible to flooding
According to the National Weather Service, in 2010, Fayetteville, Ark., received the highest recorded snowfall in the city at 27 inches. In years since, the snowfall has ranged from anywhere between .3 inches and 20.9 inches. Similarly, all of Northwest Arkansas can expect years with severe winter storms. An occurrence of a winter and the temperature is low enough that this precipitation becomes sleet or snow, or when rain turns to ice. A winter storm can range from freezing rain and ice, to moderate snowfall over a few hours, to a blizzard that lasts for several days. The precipitation isn’t the only component of a winter storm since many are accompanied by dangerously low temperatures.
of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible or snowmelt, coastal storms and storm of levees, dams, or waste water systems. Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or
Deputy Director of Emergency Management Michael Waddle. “When it rains around you, do you start to see water rise around your house? It’s important to be aware of your surroundings. If it rains hard enough around here (Northwest Arkansas), you’ll know if you’re in a low area or not.”
Flooding can happen in any U.S. state or territory. It is particularly important to low-lying area near a body of water, such as near a river, stream, or culvert; along a coast; or downstream from a dam or levee.
Flooding can occur during every season, but some areas of the country are at greater hurricane season, while the Midwest is more at risk in the spring and during heavy summer rains.
It is important to make a plan before of time when we see these big storm systems approaching,” added Waddle. “If you know you’re in a low-lying area and plan to get to higher ground and get out of the area.”
Flooding is common throughout Northwest Arkansas, so you should familiarize yourself with the local emergency plans. Know where to go and how to get there should you need to get to higher ground, the highest level of a emergency plan for the relevant type of and how you will evacuate, shelter, and locations for higher ground. Build an emergency preparedness kit, including a minimum of three days of food and water, supplies.
“Northwest Arkansas has a lot of low-water crossing areas — low-water or shallow bridges — and if the water is over the bridge, don’t try to go through it,” warned Waddle. “When we had the April/ this past year, we responded with a lot of what we call ‘swift water rescue’ — where cars get washed off of roadways. Even if you have a raised up four-wheel drive truck, don’t assume you can cross of moving water to wash your vehicle off the road.”
the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. However, do not leave the car and enter moving water. It only takes 6 inches of moving water to knock you down.
means to be aware — conditions are right point, you should turn on your radio or TV to receive the latest weather updates and emergency instructions. It is also a good idea to build or restock your emergency Disconnect electrical appliances and to avoid electrocution, be sure to not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
has been issued, this means it is time to happening or will happen shortly. Move immediately to higher ground and evacuate if directed to do so. Avoid
remember the following phrase — “Turn around. Don’t drown!”