County judge: Little River a disaster area
Water threatening roads, flushing animals from woods, delaying trash pickup service
The Red River flood of 2015 is disrupting the flow of nature, business and trash service in Little River County.
Little River County Judge Mike Cranford hosted a meeting Monday in the Ashdown High School cafeteria with public officials to discuss the Red River flood and to report the county has been declared a disaster area.
The reports ranged from highway department officials watching the Red River flood waters to determine when bridges might be opened to problems with wild animals moving out of the woods.
The disaster declaration allows Little River County to be eligible for state and federal funds for repairs to bridges and other property damage created by the flood.
Little River County joined Lafayette and Miller counties in being declared disaster areas in Southwest Arkansas.
Cranford said 21 county roads are closed due to the flood waters.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson is expected to approve the disaster declaration for Little River County.
The governor issued a statement for Little River County
published in an Associated Press news story.
“Little River County, I know you have had a couple of highways that have been closed because of flooding. And I want everyone to be assured that we are paying close attention to this, providing state support as needed,” Hutchinson said. “Right now, the local responders are doing a terrific job in helping to protect lives and property during this time of concern here in the state.”
The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department closed U.S. 71 north of Texarkana because water crossed the highway near the Red River crossing. The department directed travelers to cross at Hope, Ark., or a shorter detour through Fulton and McNab which is suitable for passenger cars but not large trucks.
The highway department closed Arkansas 41 due to the flood waters on the far west side of Little River County.
The highways will be closed until the water recedes and engineers can assess if the highways are safe for motorists.
“We’re watching the highways just like everyone else. When the water recedes our engineers will check the bridges for damage and we will clean the mud off,” said District Engineer Steve Frisbee.
If the bridges are secure then traffic will be allowed to use the highways.
However, the water remains over the highways because the Red River will not crest until later this week and then should start receding.
Cranford said the drivers should monitor the Website IDrivearkansas.com, which issues reports about road closures.
He urged the public to be patient.
Cranford also said the sanitation service has been disrupted due to the flood.
“The trash pickup service will be slow,” he said.
The county judge’s office and sheriff’s department has received calls about wildlife coming out of the woods.
“We’ve had calls about snakes, alligators, deer, wild hogs and turkeys. I’ve seen turkeys where I’ve never seen them before,” said Cranford.
He said Arkansas Game & Fish Wildlife Officer Blake Broomfield had to retrieve six alligators and relocate them back into their habitat.
“There isn’t much we can do about it,” said Wildlife Officer Mark Kennemore.
He suggested homeowners to watch for the wildlife and make sure the animals stay out of their houses.
Little River Ambulance Service, AirEvac and LifeNet helicopter service will work together in providing emergency services.
“If it’s a stroke, cardiac arrest, a fracture or pregnancy, the patients will be flown by helicopter to Texarkana,” said Paramedic Mike Chambers, representing Little River Ambulance Service.
The ambulance service has brought an additional ambulance to stay in Ashdown during the flood to fill a gap in service if another ambulance is on a call.
The Sevier County ambulance service will provide emergency service in the northwest section of the county, said Chambers.
“We’re trying to cover every situation,” said Cranford.
“We had the Ashdown High School marching band filling sand bags in front of the hospital,” he said.
He also said retail business has started improving while the bridges are closed, reducing the number of people driving to Texarkana to shop.
In statement of levity, Sevier County Judge Greg Ray told Cranford improving retail business with the program of shop at home during the Red River flood “was extreme.”