Bank of Holly Springs

Fielder’s Choice

Flooding in Arkansas

Rain has been rare the past week or so.

However, the effects of the constant downpours this spring are hanging around.

Each Wednesday morning, when delivering newspapers, I cross over the Tallahatchie River. Weekly, I’ve seen the waters rise, rise more and just keep rising.

It’s always a popular spot for fishermen but as the waters rose, it became even more popular.

Then a few weeks ago, the water had risen over the road to the boat ramp and into the restrooms in the parking lot.

Boats were out on the high waters, and others found standing spots with rods, reels and bait.

Last Wednesday (May 29) it looked as if the water was receding some. The road to the boat ramp was visible.

Memorial Day weekend, Pam, Erin and I traveled to Little Rock, Ark., to visit with Emma. Part of Pam’s Mother’s Day gift was tickets to a musical on Saturday night. She and Emma enjoyed the “The Sound of Music” at Robinson Center Music Hall downtown.

Erin and I went to the ball park – minor league game between the Arkansas Travelers versus the Springfield Cardinals. We had fun, despite the 1-0 loss for the home team.

There were other activities during the holiday weekend, including lots of good food.

On Monday morning, Pam and I walked across the street from our hotel to the banks of the Arkansas River.

We had been reading about the rising waters. I’d seen on TV the night before where many areas of Arkansas were already experiencing problems from flooding.

Then on Wednesday of last week, Emma sent us a text, which featured a notice from the Corp of Engineers website. A large area, marked in green, displayed the flooding level adjacent to Emma’s apartment complex. The complex is located near the river.

Friday, she sent us a copy of a notice from the apartment complex management.

“I’m about to essentially be living in a water-filled zoo,” Emma wrote as part of the text.

The notice said, “Please be aware that as the river rises, there will be displaced wildlife including turtles and snakes. Please be aware of this and consider wearing closed-toe shoes (or boots) and pay attention to where you and your pets are walking.”

Another part of the notice read, “If you live on the first floor, survey your apartment now and see what you can pick up off the floor and store up higher or in your bathtub.”

Thank goodness, Emma’s apartment is on the third floor.

She is making some alternate plans, realizing the road to the complex could flood, not allowing her to go in and out. Her work place is nearby, downtown, also near to the river.

The Arkansas River was at or near record levels as of late last week. The swollen river ripped through a 40-foot section of a levee about 75 miles northwest of Little Rock early Friday. It’s a historic flood event. President Trump signed a disaster declaration for 16 Arkansas counties.

“This is looking to be record-breaking all along the Arkansas River, and this is something we’ve never seen before,” said Melody Daniel, spokeswoman with Arkansas Department of Emergency Management.

Holly Springs South Reporter

P.O. Box 278
Holly Springs, MS 38635
PH: (662) 252-4261
FAX: (662) 252-3388
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