Pea Ridge Mayor Jackie Crabtree said the damage cost has not been counted, but is extremely high. He said Nathan See, street superintendent, was out beginning about 4:30 a.m. Street employees, police o◊cers and fi refighters spent most of Thursday working on fl ood-related issues.
“This is the worst I’ve ever seen,” Crabtree, mayor for 19 years and a lifetime resident of the area.
Cheryl Tillman, council member for Gateway, said water rushed through Gateway damaging buildings. “I’ve never seenGateway under water,” she said.
More than 20 inches of rain have been recorded in Pea Ridge since July 16, said Bill Ryan, retired meteorologist now living in Pea Ridge. Ryan said 5.51 inches of rain were recorded in the 24 hours ending at 7 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 7. After 7 a.m., by 11:30, there was an additional .35 inches.
Ryan, a lifetime resident of northeast Benton County, said he has never seen such a wet summer. Ryan, 77, said it was the talk of the co◊ee shop Thursday.
On Saturday, Aug. 3, the bridge over Little Sugar Creek on Peck Road through the golf course was under water. On Thursday morning, it was deeper underwater; so deep, that the guard rails could not be seen. Portions of the bridge are damaged, but the total damage can not be determined until the water recedes.
The road is the only access to the southern residences of the golf course addition. There are about a half a dozen residences on Willis Lane, Reed Loop and Peck Road, Police Chief Tim Ledbetter said.
Although there is a dirtaccess, it is deeply rutted and could not be traveled by vehicle Saturday and is expected to be worse after Tuesday’s fl oods.
“If there were an emergency there,” Capt. Josh King of Pea Ridge Fire Department said, “we couldn’t get there.”
The metal bridge on Corinth Road northeast of Pea Ridge in northern Garfield was washed out and as the water receded on many roads, ruts were left as deep as three to four feet.
“If it gets any worse, our trucks won’t be able to handle it,” NEBCO Fire Chief Rob Taylor.
Electricity - both from SWEPCO and Carroll Electric Cooperative Company - was out for hours in Pea Ridge. Two subdivisions, Windmill Estates and Standing Oaks, did have power restored before noon.
A generator provided basic electricity at City Hall,but does not run the air conditioner.
Crabtree notifi ed American Red Cross, representatives of which came to town and o◊ered assistance to residents in Givens Subdivision whose homes were flooded. At least one family was set up in a motel;
others were o◊ered help if needed.
NEBCO Fire Chief Rob Taylor and Avoca Fire Chief Frankie Elliott said they were called out repeatedly for swift water rescues. Taylor said there was an ambulance call to a residence on Sugar Creek Road to which the ambulance driver had to take the long away around because Arkansas Highway 127 was closed because it was covered with water.
“I’ve lived here my entire life. I’ve sen places with high water that I’ve never seen before. It’s taxing our department for sure, getting so many calls at one time. I don’t remember so many water rescues at one time,” Taylor said. “We had Rogers out here in wee hours of the morning assisting us. We were so strung out. We don’t have the capability of handling some of it.”
News, Pages 1 on 08/14/2013