Pocahontas Flash Flood Emergency: A Disaster Unfolds

The city of Pocahontas has undergone significant growth over the past four decades, with an industrial park emerging along Highway 67 towards Jonesboro. Located on the delta-side, the area boasts a unique combination of natural and man-made features. The Lack River Technical College lies on the east side of the Black River, while the foothills of the Ozark Mountains stretch out to the west.

However, Pocahontas is also prone to flash flooding due to its geographical location. In fact, the city has a history of record-breaking floods. On April 28, 2011, the Black River at Pocahontas reached an unprecedented level of 28.47 feet, causing widespread damage and forcing over 100 National Guardsmen to be deployed to manage the disaster.

A Flash Flood Emergency was issued by the National Weather Service in Memphis, Tennessee, describing the situation as 'an extremely dangerous and life-threatening' one. The warning led to evacuations on the east side of town and the shutdown of Highway 67.

As the river continued to rise, a local levee failed in multiple spots, exacerbating the flooding. According to the National Weather Service in Little Rock, a record crest of 29.0 feet was reached along the Black River at Pocahontas on May 2nd, breaking the previous record set just days earlier.

The levee failure resulted in catastrophic flooding throughout the college, town, and county. As water rushed over the levee, it began to degrade, forming breaches or holes that worsened the situation. Randolph County Judge David Jansen had predicted that the levee would breach, citing the river's previous history of cresting at 31.5 feet, the height of the levee.

The Pocahontas flash flood emergency serves as a stark reminder of the importance of disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience. As communities continue to grow and develop, it is essential that they prioritize flood mitigation measures and emergency response planning to minimize the impact of such disasters.

In conclusion, the 2011 Pocahontas flash flood emergency was a devastating event that highlighted the need for proactive measures to mitigate the effects of flooding. By learning from this disaster, we can work towards creating safer and more resilient communities for generations to come.