Estimate: Flood Damage To Arkansas Crops More Than $200 Million

By RYAN MCGEENEY/ UA DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE

Farmers in five counties in southeastern Arkansas suffered more than $200 million in direct losses to major crops after the major flooding and storm event in early June, according to a preliminary estimate by experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

John Anderson, economist with the Division of Agriculture and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, delivered the initial estimate during a flood recovery meeting held Monday evening at the Dumas Community Center. He was one of about a dozen experts with the Division of Agriculture presenting crop-specific information and answering questions from the approximately 175 in-person and virtual attendees.

The town of Dumas, and the nearby Division of Agriculture research station at Rohwer, are at the emotional — if not quite geographical — center of the flooding event, during which more than 19 inches of rainfall was recorded in a 48-hour period. The five counties included in the damage estimate include Desha, home to both Dumas and Rohwer, Lonoke, Prairie, Jefferson and Drew counties. The estimate did not include Chicot County, the southeasternmost county in the state, although it will likely be impacted as floodwaters continue to drain southward from Desha County on their way to the Mississippi River.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/estimate-flood-damage-arkansas-crops-more-200-million

Growers at a meeting Monday evening where officials estimated that flooding earlier this month in southeast Arkansas caused more than $200 million in damage to crops.

CREDIT UA DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE

Major Flooding for Little River in SW Arkansas and SE Oklahoma

Record flooding of tens of thousands of acres throughout much of Little River and Sevier counties of Arkansas.

Serious flooding of several thousands of acres of grazing and farming land will take place. The Kansas City Southern Railroad bed will be flooded both northwest and southeast of the Highway 41 bridge. Several secondary roadways will be cutoff in the area. Also expect severe backwater flooding on the Cossatot and Rolling Fork Rivers at and upstream from their confluences with the Little River.

The golf course west of Horatio, Arkansas floods. Also, ranchers should evacuate cattle and farm machinery to higher ground and have preparations complete for a major flood. Expect considerable lowland flooding of several hundred acres of grazing and farming land. Expect major backwater flooding of small tributaries at their confluence with the Little River such as the Cossatot and the Rolling Fork Rivers.

The boat ramp recreation area at Wilton, Arkansas downstream from Horatio is flooded and closed. Also, the golf course west of Horatio, Arkansas suffers from overflow.

The golf course west of Horatio is cut off from vehicle traffic by floodwaters. A few hundred acres of lowland flood both upstream and downstream from the Highway 41 bridge.

...The Flood Warning is extended for the following river in
Oklahoma...Arkansas...

  Little River Near Idabel affecting McCurtain, Sevier and Little
  River Counties.

...The Flood Warning continues for the following river in Oklahoma...
Arkansas...

  Little River At Horatio affecting McCurtain, Sevier, Little River
  and Howard Counties.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Do not drive cars through flooded areas.
Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks.
A Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring. All
interested parties should take necessary precautions immediately.

Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.


917 AM CDT Wed Jun 9 2021

...The Flood Warning is now in effect until Friday afternoon...

The Flood Warning continues for
  the Little River Near Idabel.
* Until Friday afternoon.
* At 8:30 AM CDT Wednesday the stage was 35.2 feet.
* Flood stage is 30 feet.
* Major flooding is occurring and major flooding is forecast.
* Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending
  at 8:30 AM CDT Wednesday was 35.3 feet.
* Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage late
  Thursday evening and continue falling to 14.3 feet Monday morning.
* Impact...At 34 feet, Farmers and ranchers should have preparations
  completed for a major flood with all cattle and farm machinery
  evacuated. Thousands of acres of lowland in the Little River flood
  plain will be flooded and several secondary roads and bridges will
  be cut off.  Move livestock and equipment to higher ground.