Tornado and Flash Flooding in Arkansas, October 6 to 9, 2008

Numerous trees were blown down, as were a few power lines. A couple of the falling trees landed on the edge of houses' roofs. Several old chicken houses being used as hay barns were damaged. An old barn and a few outbuildings were destroyed, the tin was taken off a couple of barn roofs, an old garage was blown off its foundation, and much of the tin roof was taken off another garage. Shingles were blown off a couple of houses.

Golfball sized hail fell between Donaldson and Friendship.

A large tree damaged a house.

Flash flooding occurred on the streets of Hot Springs.

Trees and power lines were knocked down.

Flash flooding occurred on several county roads in Bearden and Harmony Grove. County roads 31 and 34 near Harmony Grove were closed. Also, Ouachita 86, Ouachita 92 and Ouachita 95 were closed.

Flooding occurred along Arkansas Highway 7 south of Sparkman.

Arkansas Highway 35 northwest of Rison was flooded. Water and debris covered the road.

Rainfall amounts, estimated at 6 to 9 inches, caused flash flooding along Arkansas Highway 229. Three vehicles drove into the high water. One of the vehicles washed off the highway at Grice Creek, west of Ivan, and became stuck in a hole. Its driver was able to get out safely. The other two vehicles were washed off the highway south of Carthage and became lodged in trees at the edge of the woods. A woman and her granddaughter were in one car, and another woman was in the second car. These three people had to be rescued by a swift-water rescue team. The woman who was driving by herself had to be hospitalized, apparently due to hypothermia and shock. A bridge was washed out on Dallas County 113 in the Eaglette Community, and another bridge was washed out on Dallas County 326 between Willow and Round Hill. Water from Moro Creek flooded U.S. Highway 167 north of Ivan, closing the highway.

An elderly man drowned when he drove his small SUV into floodwaters on Arkansas Highway 7 south of Amy. The vehicle was washed off the highway and overturned. Doppler weather radar estimated that at least 6 to 8 inches of rain had fallen in the area on the night of the 6th and the morning of the 7th. The rain caused creeks to begin rising, and the highway eventually flooded. The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department indicated that the highway was closed and barricaded on the afternoon of the 7th. The man drove around the barricades and into the water around 5:30 AM CDT on the 8th. According to a report from the Arkansas State Police, the water on the highway was 4 feet deep at the time of the accident. Furthermore, the Ouachita County Sheriff's Office indicated that the water was still rising quickly at the time.