Legislators, regional officials assess situation

Federal, state and county officials gathered at Texarkana Regional Airport early Friday morning to speak about the latest development regarding the Red River flood and its effect on Southwest Arkansas.

U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman of the 4th District in Arkansas said Gov. Asa Hutchison wasn’t able to fly to Texarkana because of the weather.

Westerman said he came to view the levees and floodwater along the Red River.

“I’ve been in contact with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and they believe the flood-control measures they’ve implemented here are good because of the position and strength of the levees, and we are keeping the situation monitored because we are expected to have more rain,” he said.

Arkansas Rep. Prissy Hickerson of Texarkana said she has also been monitoring the area flooding at the state level.

“We’re going to pray for the best and prepare for the worst,” she said.

Miller County Judge Larry Burgess said he declared a state of disaster for the county on Thursday, which will make the

county eligible for rescue, repair and transport equipment, if need be, from the Corps of Engineers and the state’s Office of Emergency Management.

“Garland City is an area of concern regarding its population and possible need for evacuation, so the county has an evacuation plan in place if need be,” Burgess said. “We’ve been checking the levees and looking at the water level. We also have commercial pumps on standby in case they’re needed.”

Richard Brontoli, executive director of Red River Valley Association, said Thursday that levee construction along the river in Arkansas has undergone some federal budget cuts in the last three years, but he said the levees along the river appear to be strong.

Hickerson said locally, officials are still looking for a missing man, Dugan Ward, following his parents’ rescue Thursday from swift Red River waters near the Richmond community outside Ashdown, Ark.

Miller County Precinct 6 Justice of the Peace Ernest Pender said the county’s levee area north toward the Index Bridge, appears to be in good shape.

Burgess said most cattle in the northern part of the county have already been evacuated.

Staff photo by Evan Lewis Ark. Rep. Prissy Hickerson (R-Miller County), center, speaks with Miller County Judge Larry Burgess, right, U.S. Rep Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), left, and others Friday morning at TAC Air in Texarkana, Ark. The group talked about the coordinated...