Flooding spurs action across region
Responses include evacuation plans, consideration of more road closures
As the Red River rises, officials across the are checking levees, making preparations for citizens who may be evacuated at various times and deciding whether or not to close roads and bridges. Pecan Point near DeKalb, Texas
DeKALB, Texas—The Red River continues to rise at Pecan Point, about 13 miles north of DeKalb.
At 8 p.m. Friday, the water level at Pecan Point stood at slightly more than 34.87 feet, more than 10 feet above its 24-foot flood stage there, according to the National Weather Service in Shreveport, La. This measures nearly half a foot higher than the water crest in the area’s last major flood in May 1990.
Deborah Lann, executive assistant for the judge’s office, said the U.S. Highway 259 bridge over the Red River at that site, remains closed and likely will until the water recedes. The same remains true for the Texas Highway 8 bridge over the Red River north of New Boston, Texas. Index Bridge
High water on U.S. Highway 71 north of the Red River in Little River County, Ark., has prompted its closure, according to state Highway and Transportation Department officials.
As of 11 a.m. Friday, 2.47 miles of U.S. 71 northbound and southbound lanes on either side of the Index Bridge were closed, between Arkansas Welcome Center on the south end and state Highway 380 at Ogden on the north end.
Alternate routes were offered on state highways motorists may take to travel around the section of U.S. 71, which will remain closed until water recedes from the highway and a damage assessment can be made by AHTD engineers.
Barricades, signs and portable electronic message boards have been placed at various points north and south of the closure to warn motorists on U.S. 71. Permanent message boards throughout the Texarkana metro on Interstates 49 and 30 will also be used.
Additional highway closures can be found at idrivearkansas. com/alternate-routes.
Vehicles can travel state Highway 32 across Millwood Dam to Saratoga and then Highway 73 toward Columbus to Highway 32 and then follow to Hope, Ark. where vehicles can access Interstate 30 to travel west of Texarkana.
Another route is state Highway 32 across Millwood Dam to state Highway 355 at Saratoga, then south to McNab and to Fulton and Interstate 30. Garland City, Ark.
Garland City Mayor Tyeshekka Antwine continues to encourage residents to be prepared as the Red River rises near the town in eastern Miller County.
River reporting sites show water levels continue to rise above flood stages from Oklahoma-Texas state line and into Arkansas.
The flooding forced the closing of the Index Bridge at the border of Miller and Little River counties north of Texarkana.
“As a precaution, we’re telling residents to pack their belongings and to be ready to go,” Antwine said.
“We’re trying to take every precaution in case we have to evacuate. City employees are going door to door and leaving flyers to tell them of what is happening,” she said.
The mayor has contacted the Texarkana office of the Salvation Army, which has beds available for those who have to evacuate.
She has also contacted the manager of the Baymont Inn on North State Line Avenue, who has blocked off rooms for Garland City residents.
“She gave us a good room rate. The residents will have to pay for the rooms and not the city,” Antwine said.
“Some of the people don’t want to stay in a shelter, and I got a good rate at the Baymont,” she said.
Rising waters also flushed out a small alligator in a ditch near U.S. Highway 82 in Garland City.
“The game and fish officer wrapped up the alligator and put it in the pickup and took it away,” she said.