FAST FACTS:
(Forrest City, AR 10/30/09) News Channel 3 caught exclusive video of crews dramatically rescuing residents from their homes as flood waters stranded dozens of families in St. Francis County, Arkansas.
The rain kept coming all across the Mid-South, but near Forrest City, water literally surrounded homes. The worst of the flooding hit the area around CR226, where heavy rain pushed flood waters onto doorsteps at two dozen homes. Crews carried some residents to safety, while others escaped by truck and by boat.
The Winfrey family waited as long as possible, but when rescuers offered a way out, they took it.
"Last night when we went to sleep you could see the yard. This morning, it was completely covered," says Cheryl Winfrey.
Meantime, the road to Nyosha Williams' mother's house was flooded and too dangerous to risk leaving. "I was wondering if I could get thru it, debating if I should drive through it because I didn't know how deep it was," she says. "She was ok. I don't think she went to work today because she was scared to go out through it."
Long-time residents say they have not seen flooding this bad in years. News Channel 3 toured the hardest hit areas with the local EMA director while public works crews assessed the streets and emergency workers brought the wet and weary to dry land.
The Nichols family says rising flood waters turned dangerous around 10 Friday morning. Crews rescued them and when 12 year-old Roderick Nichols came back home, he didn't know what to expect. This time, he was lucky.
"I feel good because there's no water on the inside. All our stuff is in there. So, I'm ok," he says.
The Nichols plan to sleep in their own home and hope water recedes quickly. Meantime, many other families were forced to spend the night at area hotels.
- Two dozen homes flooded
- Residents evacuated by boat, truck and carried by hand
- Many families living in hotels after heavy rain
(Forrest City, AR 10/30/09) News Channel 3 caught exclusive video of crews dramatically rescuing residents from their homes as flood waters stranded dozens of families in St. Francis County, Arkansas.
The rain kept coming all across the Mid-South, but near Forrest City, water literally surrounded homes. The worst of the flooding hit the area around CR226, where heavy rain pushed flood waters onto doorsteps at two dozen homes. Crews carried some residents to safety, while others escaped by truck and by boat.
The Winfrey family waited as long as possible, but when rescuers offered a way out, they took it.
"Last night when we went to sleep you could see the yard. This morning, it was completely covered," says Cheryl Winfrey.
Meantime, the road to Nyosha Williams' mother's house was flooded and too dangerous to risk leaving. "I was wondering if I could get thru it, debating if I should drive through it because I didn't know how deep it was," she says. "She was ok. I don't think she went to work today because she was scared to go out through it."
Long-time residents say they have not seen flooding this bad in years. News Channel 3 toured the hardest hit areas with the local EMA director while public works crews assessed the streets and emergency workers brought the wet and weary to dry land.
The Nichols family says rising flood waters turned dangerous around 10 Friday morning. Crews rescued them and when 12 year-old Roderick Nichols came back home, he didn't know what to expect. This time, he was lucky.
"I feel good because there's no water on the inside. All our stuff is in there. So, I'm ok," he says.
The Nichols plan to sleep in their own home and hope water recedes quickly. Meantime, many other families were forced to spend the night at area hotels.
