Flash flood claims 19 lives

Rescuers began the morning of Saturday, June 12, 2010 in search of survivors after a devastating flash flood took the lives of at least 19 people on Friday in a western Arkansas. CBS News reports that at least 200 rescuers trekked the terrain of the Albert Pike Campgrounds in search of signs of life.

Although the official day of summer is not yet here, it is officially hurricane season, which means heavy rains for many areas of the South until the month of November. Up to nine inches of rain fell on Friday in Alabama, which caused the Caddo and Little Missouri rivers to rise eight feet in an hour. Reports state the rivers went from a mere 3 feet to a deadly 23 feet in a matter of hours. The rushing waters that tore through the campground did not discriminate; they wiped away everything in its path.

Along with the rains are hot, muggy days, which made rescue efforts increasingly difficult. CBS News states, “The death toll rose Saturday and is expected to continue. One-third of the dead are children. Officials say recovery could take weeks.”

With hurricane season already here, it is important you bear in mind that hurricanes also come with tropical storms that pour buckets of rain in a short period of time. Even though the rains may not seem to last long compared to the drizzle of the fall season, they can be exponentially more deadly. As you prepare for this hurricane season, do not forget to keep the accompanying tropical storms in mind by making an emergency disaster plan.