Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Arkansas, October 29 to 31, 2009

A measurement of 7.16 inches was taken for a 24 hour period.

A measurement of 5.10 inches was taken for a 24 hour period.

A measurement of 7.12 inches was taken for a 24 hour period.

A measurement of 5.08 inches was taken for a 24 hour period.

A tornado moved out of Union County and into Ouachita County just east-southeast of Louann. Roof damage occurred to a number of residences and the roof was torn off a mobile home. Hundreds of trees were blown down or snapped off, and power lines were blown down. The tornado exited Ouachita County northeast of Frenchport and continued into Calhoun County about 6 2/3 miles southwest of Locust Bayou.

This tornado exited Ouachita County northeast of Frenchport and entered Calhoun County about 6 2/3 miles southwest of Locust Bayou. In Calhoun County, the tornado traveled through wetlands, doing nothing more than knocking down trees. The tornado exited the county about 4 1/3 miles west of Locust Bayou, traveling back into Ouachita County about 2 1/4 miles south-southwest of Lakeside.

This tornado moved out of Calhoun County about 4 1/3 miles west of Locust Bayou and re-entered Ouachita County about 2 1/4 miles south-southwest of Lakeside. In Ouachita County, the tornado tore part of the roof off a house, damaged a church roof, and caused trees to fall on four houses. The tornado then moved through a trailer park, where falling trees destroyed nine of the homes and caused major damage to three others. Otherwise, hundreds of trees were blown down, as were a number of power lines. The tornado then exited Ouachita County in East Camden and moved into the Calhoun County portion of the same town.

This tornado exited the Ouachita County portion of East Camden and moved into the Calhoun County portion of the town and the Highland Industrial Park. At Southern Arkansas University Tech, a number of buildings suffered roof damage, and several 18-wheeler trailers were blown over. Many trees were blown down, some of which fell on vehicles parked at the university.. The tornado then exited Calhoun County and once again moved into Ouachita County.

The tornado began in a wooded area of the Highland Industrial Park and then tore through the Arkansas Fire Training Academy. At the academy, the Apparatus Building was heavily damaged, walls were blown out of the Smoke Building, a large part of the roof was torn off the Administration and Classroom Building, and vehicles belonging to the students were tossed around and overturned. About 60 staff members and students were in the Administration and Classroom Building, but they were aware of the tornado warning that was in effect and had taken shelter in small, interior rooms. There were no injuries. Trees, power lines, and power poles were blown down. The tornado then continued into the Ouachita County portion of the Highland Industrial Park.

After damaging the campus of Southern Arkansas University Tech, this tornado continued tracking through the Highland Industrial Park, passing from the Calhoun County portion into the Ouachita County portion. The tornado knocked down a few trees and then ended quickly.

After badly damaging the Arkansas Fire Training Academy, this tornado moved from the Calhoun County portion of the Highland Industrial Park into the Ouachita County portion. Thirty-one empty railroad tank cars, which had been stored on a little-used track, were blown over. After the tornado left the industrial park, it caused several houses to suffer roof damage, snapped power poles, and blew down power lines. Along the tornado's path, hundreds of trees were toppled.

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. Some of the trees fell on houses.

The tornado knocked down hundreds of trees, along with some power lines and poles. Metal roofing was torn off a barn.

Trees were down.

Trees were down.

Many trees were knocked down, with several of the trees falling on houses. Power lines were also felled.

The tornado blew down or snapped off thousands of trees on private timber lands.

Thousands of trees were blown down by the tornado, primarily within the Ouachita National Forest. The Knopper's Ford Recreation Area was damaged and had to be closed. Parts of the Sugar Creek Multipurpose Horse and Off-Highway Vehicle Trail also had to be closed. The tornado exited Scott County about 7 1/2 miles north-northwest of Olio and continued into Logan County about 2 1/4 miles south-southeast of Joyland.

Numerous streets in Sheridan were flooded, and the Sheridan Fire Department sustained flood damage. In the county, flooded roads included Grant 58, 16, 9, 14, 31, and 313, along with Keg Mill Rd., Fairview Rd., and Arkansas Highway 46 in the Hurricane Creek area. Several homes and businesses suffered flood damage. Two water rescues occurred. The Sheridan schools were closed on the 30th due to flooding on at least 25 of the 44 bus routes.

This tornado moved out of Scott County about 7 1/2 miles north-northwest of Olio and entered Logan County about 2 1/4 miles south-southeast of Joyland. Hundreds of trees were blown down. Several barns and sheds were destroyed in the Jacks Creek area.

Arkansas Highways 28 and 248 were flooded. A number of county roads were damaged by flash flooding.

The tornado blew down a few trees and snapped limbs off in a couple of areas, but most of the tornado's track was across open farm fields.

A few trees and power lines were down in the Spadra Community.

A few trees and power lines were down.

A trailer was blown off its foundation. The frame was broken in half and the windows were blown out.

Roads were underwater.

The tornado caused a massive tree blowdown soon after touching down. It then passed west of Velie and near Amy. One house had part of one wall and a portion of its roof torn off, part of the roof was torn off a mobile home, another mobile home was blown off its foundation, and several outbuildings were damaged. The tornado exited Ouachita County about 3 1/3 miles east-northeast of Smead and continued into Dallas County about 3 2/3 miles west-southwest of Holly Springs.

Arkansas Highway 10 was flooded between Booneville and the Magazine Bridge. Damage to bridges occurred at Marcelle Phillips Park and Veterans Park in Booneville. An aluminum bridge on Earl Prairie Rd. was washed out. Part of Brewer Rd. washed away and a pipe washed out on Goff Rd. Water rose to a depth of more than 3 feet at a feed store in Booneville, causing merchandise to float around in the store. A hardware store also suffered flood damage. Numerous county roads were flooded, especially in the southern half of the county.

This tornado exited Ouachita County about 3 1/3 miles east-northeast of Smead and entered Dallas County about 3 2/3 miles west-southwest of Holly Springs. Thousands of trees were blown down, a few outbuildings were destroyed, and a house had roof damage and a window blown out.

Flooding on Spadra Creek and Horsehead Creek caused roads to be flooded and culverts washed out. Numerous streets were flooded in Clarksville, as was U.S. Highway 64 around Hartman and Coal Hill. Around 9:20 PM CDT, a washout on a railroad track caused a train derailment in the Coal Hill Bottoms, south of Coal Hill. Nineteen hopper cars carrying soybeans were derailed, spilling the beans and tearing up a section of track. Mudslides occurred on Interstate 40 southwest of Hunt, on Arkansas Highway 103 in the Batson Mountain vicinity, and on a road north of Catalpa. Eight houses were flooded in the western part of the county. Cattle had to be rescued from flooding at the Dirty Creek Bridge on Arkansas Highway 164. Numerous county roads were flooded in the area west of Arkansas Highway 21. Several water rescues were necessary.

Heavy rainfall caused flooding on Stonewall Drive in Jacksonville. Water was one foot deep on the road.

A number of county roads were flooded.

Flash flooding caused considerable damage to county roads.

Arkansas Highway 9 was closed west of Princeton, as was Arkansas Highway 48 between Carthage and Tulip. Arkansas Highway 8 was flooded west of Fordyce. Numerous county roads were flooded. Quite a few roads and culverts were washed out. Some roads were also impassable around Willow, Round Hill, and Pine Grove. The worst of the damage was in the western half of the county, according to the county judge. The Fordyce schools were closed on October 30th because of flooded bus routes.

Flooding was reported on Arkansas Highway 365 and King Road. Many county roads were damaged by flooding. Ridge Road and Grassy Lake Road were closed.

Arkansas Highways 157, 124, 13, 16, 31, 36, and 87 were flooded, as were numerous county roads.

Arkansas Highway 92 near the Hill Creek community was flooded. Many county roads suffered damage.

Flooding occurred on Pine Street and Bethel Road.

The Cabot Fire Department evacuated people from the Oak Meadows and Briarwood Loop areas.

Arkansas Highway 319 was flooded west of Apple Hill. The highway was closed and people were reportedly trapped.

Flash flooding damaged many county roads.

The tornado tore shingles and siding off a house, destroyed a shed, uprooted iron clothesline poles anchored in concrete, blew down an 80-foot tall amateur radio antenna, damaged the roof of a mobile home, took the roof off a shed, and blew down trees and power lines.

The intersection of North Hills Blvd. and Country Club Rd. was underwater. A culvert 6 feet in diameter washed out on Batesville Pike, causing the road to cave in. One car fell in the hole before the road was closed to traffic. Portions of Brockington Road were underwater. Barricades were in place on Brookswood Road. In Sherwood, Woodruff Creek overflowed, flooding nine houses on Bronco Lane.

Arkansas Highway 327 between Parthenon and Jasper had logs and debris on the road from heavy rain, and part of the road was flooded as well. A mudslide occurred 2 miles north of Wayton and the road was impassable. A landslide occurred on Boat Mountain, taking out the road leading to the top of the mountain. According to the county judge, areas around Walnut and Limestone were particularly hard hit by flooding, which washed out most bridges and roads. In addition, numerous low water slabs and culverts were washed out.

Gravel washed over Arkansas Highway 7 due to heavy rain and flash flooding.

A couple of slabs were washed out at low water crossings near Omaha, and a couple of roads had to be closed near Alpena.

At the National Weather Service office, 0.42 inch of rain fell in 5 minutes.

A concrete-lined drainage ditch along MacArthur Drive caved in. The parking lot outside of a hardware store subsequently caved in and flooding damaged merchandise stacked outside the store. On the other side of the ditch, about a dozen cars were flooded outside a pawn shop and one of the cars floated down the ditch. Condominiums on Scenic Hill were damaged when water flowed down the hill and into the residences. Several other homes were damaged by overflowing drainage ditches. The railroad underpass at Pershing Blvd. and Percy Machin Dr. had several feet of water in it and two cars were submerged in the water. Water entered apartments at Silver City Courts.

Substantial flooding occurred in Shannon Hills. A number of homes were flooded.

Significant flooding occurred. Evacuations were contemplated, but endied up being unnecessary.

Flash flooding damaged many county roads.

Numerous county roads were damaged by flooding.

Several cars were stalled in high water on JFK Boulevard in the Park Hill area of North Little Rock. Many spots on JFK and Arkansas Highway 107 from North Little Rock to Sherwood were covered with water.

Portions of U.S. Highway 167 and Arkansas Highway 14 through Batesville were closed due to water over the road. A number of county roads were damaged.

Significant flooding occurred along County Road 9 and Arkansas Highways 56 and 69. Many other county roads were covered by water.

Flooding occurred throughout the Mountain View area and at the Martin Access Road near Arkansas Highway 14. Many county roads and some small bridges were damaged.

Approaches to many low water bridges were destroyed. Bridges on Big Creek and Martin Creek were severely damaged. A bridge on Shaw Cemetery Road was also damaged. Numerous rescues were necessary.

Spring Club Road had water over it. The water was starting to wash away the road.

A rock slide occurred on Arkansas Highway 74 about a mile east of Jasper.

Jack's Bayou flooded the service road of U.S. Highway 67/167 and a part of the southbound main lanes, as well. Traffic backed up for miles during the morning rush hour. Bayou Meto flooded West Main Road near the Northlake Subdivision. Bayou Meto also spilled into yards on Arkansas Highway 161 near Reed's Bridge. Part of South Redmond Road had to be barricaded.

Flooding of the railroad halted freight and passenger trains.

McCain Boulevard was impassable due to water over the road.

Peters Road was impassable.

Arkansas Highway 107 was impassable due to water on the road.

Numerous water rescues occurred across Little Rock including one at the intersection of Markham Street and Fair Park Boulevard. A dinner theater had to halt its performance due to flooding.

Bayou Bartholomew and Abel's Creek inundated thousands of acres of crops. Arkansas Highways 114, 212, and 54 were temporarily closed by flooding. Numerous county roads were underwater.

Flash flooding caused damage to a number of county roads. The intersection of Arkansas Highways 249 and 302 flooded.

Numerous county roads and city streets were damaged by flooding.

Trees and power lines were blown down.

Water was over the bridge on Oakbrook Drive in the Millers Crossing subdivision. Water was in and near several houses.

Cars were stranded in the Riverdale area. Water entered a gas station at the intersection of Cedar Hill Road and Rebsamen Park Road.

Numerous county roads were damaged by flash flooding.

Soon after the tornado touched down, it damaged a church, where the steeple was toppled and the portico blown down. It then took part of the roof off a house. Next, the tornado traveled into a shopping center. A discount store had several doors blown in, part of the facade blown off, and damage to the roof which resulted in water dripping inside the store.. A car, a small pickup truck, and a tractor-trailer were overturned. Shopping carts and cart corrals were blown around the parking lot. An ice machine at a gas station was blown out into the driveway. A couple of restaurants and a branch bank suffered roof damage. A couple of business signs were blown out. Three people were injured in the business area. The tornado then continued into a residential area. One house was badly damaged when a tree fell into it, and a couple of outbuildings were destroyed. Several homes had shingles torn off and a fence was blown down. Along the path of the tornado, dozens of large trees were blown down. One of these trees fell on a car, injuring a person.

A water rescue from a vehicle occurred on Hiram Road. While a sheriff's deputy was en route to the Hiram Road call, his patrol car was swept off Cooter Neck Road. Two people were evacuated from a residence on Scott Street in Heber Springs. Flooding damaged many roads in the county.

Flooding closed Arkansas Highway 37 near Grubbs.

A large metal, industrial building suffered considerable damage.

Numerous county roads were damaged by flooding.

Numerous county roads were damaged by flooding.

Numerous county roads were damaged by flash flooding.

U.S. Highway 79 southwest of Camden was closed due to water over the road. A high water rescue was necessary on the highway at Ogemaw. Other highways closed included Arkansas 57 from U.S. Highway 278 to Arkansas Highway 76, and Arkansas Highway 376 from U.S. Highway 79 to U.S. Highway 278. The basement of the county courthouse in Camden was flooded. County roads closed included Ouachita 1, 2, 6, 25, 32, 45, 88, 96, 210, 232, and the intersection of 427 and 97. Many county roads were washed out.

Numerous county roads were damaged by flash flooding.

Numerous county roads were damaged by flash flooding.

A pickup truck was swept off Webber Chapel Road into an unnamed creek. The driver was killed after being swept downstream. A passenger in the vehicle saved himself by clinging to a tree.

Numerous county roads were damaged by flash flooding.

Flooding on the Spring River at Hardy washed out Loberg Park, destroying the fence around the park, damaging playground equipment and partially washing out trails in the park. Two residents near the park had to be rescued by boat. The fence around the ballpark at Buford Beach was destroyed. A church was flooded. The library in Williford flooded. A fire engine was stranded in high water.

Flash flooding damaged some county roads.

Much of the roof was removed from one house, and several other houses were damaged. A farm shop was destroyed, as was a metal building. Trees and power lines were blown down, a carport fell on a pickup truck, and a fence was blown down.

Roads were impassable in Monticello due to high water. Several feet of water was in area yards with the ditches overflowing. Arkansas Highway 138 was closed. A number of county roads were damaged.

U.S. Highway 165 was flooded between DeWitt and Gillett, causing several vehicles to be swept off the road. Arkansas Highways 11, 276, and 153 were flooded as well. A water rescue was necessary on Pittman Road southeast of DeWitt. The county judge estimated that 90% of county roads had water on them.

U.S. Highway 49 and Arkansas Highways 302 and 17 were closed due to flooding. Numerous county roads were damaged.

Flash flooding caused damage to numerous county roads.

Flash flooding which began on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th. Water entered 15 homes in the Wildwood Subdivision in Beebe when water overflowed from a swamp. Firefighters had to carry two small children through knee-deep water after the water surrounded their house.

Flash flooding which began on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th.

Flash flooding which began on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th.

Flash flooding which began on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th.

Flash flooding which began on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th.

Flash flooding which occurred on the 29th continued into the 30th as areal flooding.

Flash flooding which began on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th.

Flash flooding which began on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th. Flooding on Woodberry Road prevented the school bus from taking students to Hampton.

Flash flooding which developed on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th.

Flash flooding that developed on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th.

Flash flooding that developed on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th. U.S. Highway 79 eventually had to be closed west of Kingsland due to high water.

Flash flooding which began on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th.

Flash flooding which began on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th.

Flash flooding which began on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th.

Flash flooding which began early on the 30th became widespread areal flooding later in the morning.

Flash flooding which began on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th.

Flash flooding which began early on the 30th became widespread areal flooding later in the day.

Flash flooding which began early on the 30th became widespread areal flooding later in the day.

Flash flooding which began on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th.

Flooding damaged many county roads.

Flash flooding which began on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th.

Flash flooding which began on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th.

Flash flooding which began on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th.

Flash flooding which began on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th. Several businesses were flooded and four families were evacuated in the southwest part of Camden. Water was up to the door handles of minivans.

Flash flooding which began on the 29th became widespread areal flooding on the 30th.

Flash flooding which developed early on the 30th became widespread areal flooding later in the morning.

A natural gas pipeline was damaged due to debris floating in floodwaters.

Flash flooding which began early on the morning of the 30th became widespread areal flooding later in the day.

Flash flooding which began early on the 30th became widespread areal flooding later in the day.

Three vehicles were swept off the road, necessitating swift water rescues. Six adults and two children were rescued.