Photo: Courtesy nwaonline.com
FORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) – Officials say the levee system along the Arkansas River is holding as the river nears a historic crest in western Arkansas.
Col. Bob Dixon of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the levee system is “performing admirably” as the river approaches its expected crest midday Wednesday near Fort Smith, the state’s second-largest city.
Still, the river is nearly twice the level it was 10 days ago, and widespread flooding persists.
Dixon says the levee system will be strained as the rush of water moves
downstream. He says floodwaters should begin to slowly recede in Fort Smith but that it will likely take weeks.
Arkansas Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Melody Daniel says 45 homes have been affected by floodwaters in Sebastian County, but the number is expected to rise to “several hundred.”
One death has been attributed to the flooding. Authorities are urging people not to drive around barricades.
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