As Laura moves east, flash flooding could still be Issue in Texarkana

 

The eye of Hurricane Laura took an eastward path Thursday, sparing Texarkana from the worst of the tropical storm conditions.

However, heavy rain was still expected for much of the day along with winds between 30 and 35 mph.

"Flash flooding is still a threat. The eye is moving toward Columbia County but there are still outer bands," said Miller County Office of Emergency Management Director Joe Bennett.

"Remnants of the eye wall," were pushing toward South Central Arkansas late Thursday morning, leaving Northeast Texas and much of Southwest Arkansas in the flea, according to the National Weather Service Shreveport Office.

A flash flood watch is still in effect through 7 a.m. Friday morning.

Rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches are expected with isolated higher amounts of 8 inches in some areas are possible. Flooding could occur in poor drainage areas. Heavy rainfall could also cause flooding of creeks, streams and rivers.

"Don't underestimate the power of water. Don't risk driving through floodwaters," said Charlie Woodrum, meteorologist will the National Weather Service in Shreveport.

Some trees were down in Miller County Thursday morning including one on U.S. Highway 71 near Doddridge but crews were out and working to remove the debris.

"It does not take much for trees to go down when the ground is this wet," Bennett said.

The Arkansas National Guard will be staging in some locations in Southwest Arkansas and South Central Arkansas and will be on standby to help local first responders in the event of flooding, Bennett said.

Low areas in both Texarkana, Arkansas, and Texarkana, Texas were not experiencing any major flooding issues Thursday, according to police.

A number of customers remained without power Thursday afternoon.

Southwest Arkansas REA reported 316 Miller County customers were still without power along with 151 Lafayette County customers. SWEPCO reported 44 customers in Texarkana were still without power Thursday afternoon. Bowie Cass Electric reported 51 customers without power in Texarkana Thursday.

All downed power lines should be considered energized and dangerous, according to information from SWEPCO. No one should touch anything in contact with a line such as trees, fenced or water puddles.

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