FLOODING IN ARKANSAS

Flooding continues to set records this Spring, both when it comes to the volume of H2O & to the record number of towns, cities & states affected.  This truly may be the return of the "Hundred Year Flood" & the worst flooding since 1927.

While places like Memphis, Tennessee are featured in national news stories for the flooding of the Mississippi River -- deservedly so -- the flooding of the White River in Central Arkansas may have one of the most major impacts when it comes to transportation & the national economy.

While the White River has flooded many homes & businesses -- especially the towns of Des Arc & DeVall's Bluff -- the river flooding of Interstate 40 -- one of the major East/West routes for trucks hauling just about everything from army weapons to fresh produce -- has created serious detours, adding miles & hours to any vehicle trying to cross Arkansas.

Note to "hipper" readers:  Interstate 40 is also used by many drug dealers.  No doubt, a lot of people are going to be finding themselves relegated to smoking twigs & seeds until the H2O recedes.

Westbound traffic on I-40 is redirected North to Bald Knob, Arkansas & Eastbound trucks are sent to Pine Bluff, on down to Lake Village, Arkansas & across the Mississippi River at Greenville, Mississippi.  Trucks then go North to Memphis.

The detours add from 200 to 300 miles for anyone trying to get between Memphis & Little Rock.

Highway 70 -- which was the "old" East/West road (before the Interstate System) -- is not an option for diverting Interstate traffic, as Highway 70 is also flooded from the same rivers.

Of course, it is not only the larger rivers which are flooding.  Almost every where I have been driving in the past few days, I have encountered flooded fields, swollen streams & many roads closed due to high H2O.

Traveling yesterday to Lonoke, Arkansas, I was amazed at the places where the H2O was at the pavement, on both sides of the road I was on.  All indications were that the flooding was across the road earlier in the week.

At my home, I have been luckier than some neighbors as to the effect of the rain & flooding.

 Above is a photo of the creek in the back of my house, taken last Monday.  I'd say it was more than "full".

This next photo was taken yesterday. Most of the H2O has drained off & things are returning to normal.

My flooding is gone ... for now/until the next major rain.  For so many others it will take weeks/ months to recover from this year's flooding.