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CORPS ISSUES RIVER ADVISORY

BY THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Saturday, October 10, 2009 7:44 PM CDT

Another small craft advisory was issued by the Army Corps of Engineers following more rain in Arkansas Friday. The corps lifted an advisory Tuesday.

Meanwhile, storms caused few problems for some areas of Southeast Arkansas, officials said.

The corps issued an advisory Friday for small boaters to stay off the Arkansas River because rains have pushed flows above safe levels for small craft, a spokesman said.

Advisories are issued when flows exceed 70,000 cubic feet per second. Flows Friday at Murray Lock and Dam at Little Rock and at Emmett Sanders Lock and Dam at Pine Bluff were about 60,000 cfs and expected to climb above 200,000 cfs by Sunday.

More rain could push flows higher or cause the advisory to remain in effect longer. All pleasure boaters are urged to stay off the river until flows recede to safe levels. Details: Visit www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil <http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/> .

Meanwhile, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office reported that Highway 7 was blocked by trees across the road Friday morning. Power was reported out in the Dalark area, northwest of Fordyce and trees were reportedly down in Fordyce.

There were also reports that people were trapped in their homes in the Dalark area.

Wally Hunt, coordinator of the Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management, said the front edge of a storm system that hit Dallas County headed toward western Jefferson County between 9:30 and 10 a.m.

There was also some indications on radar of a storm system around the Tucker area.

Regarding Grant County, Hunt said he had heard no reports of damage from there, but based on radar said the area received significant rainfall.

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