Flash Flood Watch issued for potential Arkabutla Dam failure

Gina Butkovich, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·2 min read
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Breaking news Mississippi

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for several Mississippi and Arkansas counties due to a potential dam failure at the Arkabutla Dam on the Coldwater River.

The watch is in effect for portions of North Mississippi and East Arkansas, including Coahoma, DeSoto, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate and Tunica counties in Mississippi and Crittenden and Lee counties in Arkansas. The watch is in effect until Wednesday afternoon.

"In general, anything downstream will have some potential to see some flooding," said John Sirmon, a meterologist with the National Weather Service. "That would be Arkabutla, maybe down near Senatobia, Crenshaw, Pleasant Grove, mainly that area along south of Arkabutla that would be the direction that it would drain."

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District activated its Emergency Operations Center Tuesday after identifying potential breach conditions at Arkabutla Dam. In a statement, the district said that observed conditions at the dam's outlet structure led to the declaration.

"The district will lower the pool to an elevation of at least 210 feet to reduce breach potential and initiate safe emergency repairs," the statement read. "Operational releases associated with lowering the lake are not expected to induce downstream flooding. Project personnel continue to monitor dam conditions 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

NWS recommends residents be ready to implement a flood safety plan. People are safest by staying indoors, or seeking higher ground if shelter is not available.

"Just have a plan, in case this does rupture, to be able to get out of there pretty quickly," Sirmon said. "You know if you have any vehicles or anything like that you want to go ahead and get out of the way, it might be a good idea to go and do that now if you can, but just contact your family members, make sure they have a plan or are aware of the potential danger."

Gina Butkovich covers DeSoto County, storytelling and general news. She can be reached at 901/232-6714.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Flash Flood Watch issued for potential Arkabutla Dam failure