NWS Issues Flood Warning for Phillips County

HELENA-WEST HELENA --- The National Weather Service in Memphis, TN issued, at 4:25 a.m., a flood warning for Phillips County, Arkansas.

Here is the full text of the warning:

Issued by The National Weather Service
Memphis, TN
4:25 am CDT, Sat., May. 7, 2011

... THE FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT SUNDAY FOR SMALL STREAMS IN TALLAHATCHIE... NORTHWESTERN YALOBUSHA... QUITMAN... COAHOMA... PANOLA... TATE... TUNICA... DESOTO... SOUTH CENTRAL CRITTENDEN... SOUTHERN LEE AND PHILLIPS COUNTIES...

RECENT HEAVY RAINFALL COMBINED WITH BACKWATER FLOODING BY THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER HAS LEFT MANY AREAS FLOODED ALONG THE 100 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN. THIS HAS RESULTED IN NUMEROUS ROAD CLOSURES AND AREAS POTENTIALLY UNDER THE THREAT OF EVACUATION.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR HAS BEEN REPORTED. STREAM RISES WILL BE SLOW AND FLASH FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED. HOWEVER... ALL INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS IMMEDIATELY.

STAY TUNED TO THIS BROADCAST FOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND INFORMATION. TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER ONLY... CALL 1 800 4 3 2 0 8 7 5.

The National Weather Service has reported that this warning ends at 6:15 p.m. on tomorrow, Sunday, May 8, 2011. The river is expected to crest at about 55 to 57 feet on May 12, 2011.

There are several high water areas along the Mississippi River in the Phillips County area. The Helena Improvement District put of the gates in the levee wall out of concern earlier this week. They also closed the gate on the Walker Street Levee to prevent a backflow of Mississippi River water into areas of town.

We have been made aware of rampant concerns about flooding and evacuation plans. At this point, however, nothing in the projections indicates that there will be a need for evacuation in the Helena-West Helena area of Phillips County.

The following video explains the seeping water in the Walker Street Levee:

The Scoop has gathered the following resource information (Phone Numbers) for Phillips County:

In Case of Emergency: DIAL 911

Honorable Arnell Willis, Mayor 8707141173

Honorable Don Gentry, County Judge 8703384620

Mr. Mike Burchett, Office of Emergency Services 8703384697

Mr. Tommy "Car Wash" Cole 8707141938

Senator Jack Crumbly 8702707650

State Representative Clark Hall 8708160231

Mr. Ray Price, Chief of Police 8707141449

Mr. Reginald Wilson, Fire Chief, 8708165881

There are other areas in Arkansas impacted by the flood warning and the high waters on the Mighty Mississippi River. See List of Affected Arkansas Areas. Police are going door to in Memphis, TN urging evacuation. Helena-West Helena has not yet reach a point where evacuation is a serious concern.

Stay tuned to The Inside Scoop Online for further updates on this and other important matters.

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