Scary stuff: At Least 16 Killed At Arkansas Campground As Flash Flood Wreaks Havoc

[Gracy]

Vacation turned into disaster for the few unlucky families camping at Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas. Heavy overnight rain forced Caddo and Little Missourie rivers to rise up from their banks and pummel into the campground by dawn, destroying everything in its path.

At least 16 people were killed and many more are missing and feared dead. Such was the force of the torrent pouring down the remote valley that it peeled asphalt off roads and bark off trees. Cabins dotting the river banks were severely damaged. Mobile homes were upturned.

Bill Sadler, Arkansas State Police spokesman, said that at least two dozen people were hospitalized. Authorities rescued dozens more before suspending their search at nightfall Friday. Crews on helicopters, canoes, ATVs and horses were to resume the search at daybreak Saturday. An emergency call center was set up for relatives to report loved ones, who may be missing from the campground. Till now, it had received inquiries about 73 people, said Arkansas Department of Emergency Management spokesman Chad Stover.

"We haven't confirmed if they were at the campsite, but people have called because they believe a loved one may have been there and they can't locate them," Stover said late Friday. "As we begin search and rescue operations tomorrow morning, it will give us a better idea of how many people we may be looking for. "And we still consider it a search and rescue operation for a little while longer."

The tragedy left many families mourning for their loved ones who were either killed or are still missing. A candlelight vigil in front of a Methodist church in the nearby town of Langley drew about 40 people Friday night who prayed and sang the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul."

Pastor Scott Kitchens, from the neighboring town of Athens, said he had talked with victims' families for much of the day. One woman described losing her 6-year-old child to a torrent of floodwater. "I've had tragedy in my life," Kitchens said, "but I have nothing to compare this to."

Forecasters had issued a warning about the deteriorating weather condition but it is likely that the campers missed the warning because the area is isolated. "There's not a lot of way to get warning to a place where there's virtually no communication," Governor, Mike Beebe said. "Right now we're just trying to find anybody that is still capable of being rescued."

http://www.timesnewsline.com/news/At-Least-16-Killed-At-Arkansas-Campground-As-Flash-Flood-Wrecks-Havoc-1276340413/

[Keri]

Very sad and keeping these families in my prayers!