Little Cottonwood Creek, Utah, overflowing its banks
Two weeks ago on the night of Thursday, June 10, a heavy rainstorm moved through southwestern Arkansas, dumping up to 9 inches of rain over a mostly remote section of wilderness. In this area lies Albert Pike Campground, located at the junction of the Little Missouri and Caddo Rivers.
Two to three hundred people were camping in tents, cabins, and RVs on Thursday night when light rain began to fall. The rain picked up around 11pm and didn’t let up until around dawn. The NOAA issued a flash flood warning for the area after 1:30am, but all the sleeping campers heard was the rain pelting the outside of their tents.
Here’s a video (through the eyes of CBS reporters) that illustrates the magnitude of the flood.
By 5 a.m., the river had risen from 3 to 23 feet, completely submerging the campground, cabins, and even the bridge leading out of the campground. Waking to a nightmare, some campers were able to make it to higher ground, while others clung to trees or vehicles and prayed.
In the end, the flash flood took the lives of 20 outdoor lovers, just out enjoying the fresh air and captivating campfire conversation. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims, and to honor them we want to do what we can to reduce the chances of this tragedy happening again.
Know Before You Go
Exposed roots along the Watauga River, NC
Flash floods happen frequently. Before you set up your tent next to a peaceful trickle, look around for evidence of past flooding. Watch out for:
Large logs littering the creek/riverbed
High-water marks on banks or wounded trees next to the water
A slow moving bend in the river next to a low, flat area where water can collect (flood plains make great campsites)
Dry creek beds and ditches; just because the drainage is dry now doesn’t mean it will be all night
Prevention
It may sound like common sense, but checking the weather before you go (i.e., right before you get in the car) is too often forgotten. Check the radar images, because localized heavy rains may affect an area upstream and flood the river where you are, without a drop of rain falling.
Know the area. Get a map and get acquainted with the topography up- and downstream. In flatter terrain, higher ground may be harder to find than it sounds, so find a spot on the map and navigate your way to it so you’ll be ready if the worst happens. (Conversely, if you’re hiking in a canyon, especially slot canyons of which Utah has many, there may be long stretches where the rock walls are too steep to climb—don’t go if there’s a risk of a flash flood.)
Talk to a ranger. Many of them love talking to people. Ask him or her about the river and its flood history, as well as the weather and what he expects for the night. You’ll probably get some great local stories to share over the campfire later, too.
Pick your campsite carefully, especially while backpacking. The flat, sandy site a few steps from water may seem perfect, but you’re safer choosing the slightly sloped site away from the water. If you’re in the woods, sleeping in a hammock like the Hammock Bliss No-See-Um-No More Hammock allows you to not worry about how sloped the ground is, so you don’t have to sleep in a floodplain. Add the Eagles Nest Outfitters ProFly Rain Tarp, and enjoy a good night’s sleep despite the thunderstorm. Note: The Forest Service instructs campers to set up at least a quarter-mile from any water source so that you can be safe if the water rises, and also to preserve the river as a sanctuary for wildlife.
Tempting Floodplain Campsite, Harper's Creek, NC
Carry a weather radio, like the Garmin Rino 130, that tunes into NOAA weather stations, which could have alerted the Arkansas campers in the middle of the night. Other less-expensive, battery-powered models are designed to turn on when an alert is issued. These are a great idea for your home, but when sleeping in a tent or RV, their value is beyond calculation.
Don’t ever rely on a cell phone. There was no cell phone reception for the campers at Albert Pike, and most great backcountry spots are the same way. The best way to signal for help in an emergency is by using a Personal Locator Beacon. These powerful devices could save your life, but summoning search and rescue when not absolutely necessary puts everyone in danger and could eventually result in these devices being taken off the market. For more on this topic, read Plugging Into the Backcountry – Dangers of Technology.
Nature is a Friend and Foe
It is important to note that the Arkansas campers could have followed these guidelines and still met a similar fate. This flash flood was a tragedy that no one could have imagined. After all, lifelong residents and visitors had seen the river flood, but never to this extreme level. It illustrates the need for constant attention to your surroundings, day or night.
The dangers we normally avoid in our luxurious lives can be thrust into our faces at the most unexpected times when we’re out-of-doors. That is what the thrill of the outdoors is all about, but it is vital to understand that life is a struggle against the forces of nature, and when you head out to someplace remote (or even just a campground), you are stacking the odds against yourself. Be safe; be prepared.
Shoes to packs, hit the trails.
Backcountry house-hunting, simplified.
Stay dry out there.
Arkansas Campground Flash Flood: Learning Lessons from a Tragedy
By: Jeffrey Miesbauer | June 24th, 2010 | Posted in Commentary, Outdoor Articles | Tags: Albert Pike Campground, Arkansas flood, camp safety, camping, car camping, flash flood preparedness, flash flood prevention, RVingNo Comments »
Little Cottonwood Creek, Utah, overflowing its banks
Two weeks ago on the night of Thursday, June 10, a heavy rainstorm moved through southwestern Arkansas, dumping up to 9 inches of rain over a mostly remote section of wilderness. In this area lies Albert Pike Campground, located at the junction of the Little Missouri and Caddo Rivers.
Two to three hundred people were camping in tents, cabins, and RVs on Thursday night when light rain began to fall. The rain picked up around 11pm and didn’t let up until around dawn. The NOAA issued a flash flood warning for the area after 1:30am, but all the sleeping campers heard was the rain pelting the outside of their tents.
Here’s a video (through the eyes of CBS reporters) that illustrates the magnitude of the flood.
By 5 a.m., the river had risen from 3 to 23 feet, completely submerging the campground, cabins, and even the bridge leading out of the campground. Waking to a nightmare, some campers were able to make it to higher ground, while others clung to trees or vehicles and prayed.
In the end, the flash flood took the lives of 20 outdoor lovers, just out enjoying the fresh air and captivating campfire conversation. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims, and to honor them we want to do what we can to reduce the chances of this tragedy happening again.
Know Before You Go
Flash floods happen frequently. Before you set up your tent next to a peaceful trickle, look around for evidence of past flooding. Watch out for:
Prevention
It may sound like common sense, but checking the weather before you go (i.e., right before you get in the car) is too often forgotten. Check the radar images, because localized heavy rains may affect an area upstream and flood the river where you are, without a drop of rain falling.
Know the area. Get a map and get acquainted with the topography up- and downstream. In flatter terrain, higher ground may be harder to find than it sounds, so find a spot on the map and navigate your way to it so you’ll be ready if the worst happens. (Conversely, if you’re hiking in a canyon, especially slot canyons of which Utah has many, there may be long stretches where the rock walls are too steep to climb—don’t go if there’s a risk of a flash flood.)
Talk to a ranger. Many of them love talking to people. Ask him or her about the river and its flood history, as well as the weather and what he expects for the night. You’ll probably get some great local stories to share over the campfire later, too.
Pick your campsite carefully, especially while backpacking. The flat, sandy site a few steps from water may seem perfect, but you’re safer choosing the slightly sloped site away from the water. If you’re in the woods, sleeping in a hammock like the Hammock Bliss No-See-Um-No More Hammock allows you to not worry about how sloped the ground is, so you don’t have to sleep in a floodplain. Add the Eagles Nest Outfitters ProFly Rain Tarp, and enjoy a good night’s sleep despite the thunderstorm. Note: The Forest Service instructs campers to set up at least a quarter-mile from any water source so that you can be safe if the water rises, and also to preserve the river as a sanctuary for wildlife.
Tempting Floodplain Campsite, Harper's Creek, NC
Carry a weather radio, like the Garmin Rino 130, that tunes into NOAA weather stations, which could have alerted the Arkansas campers in the middle of the night. Other less-expensive, battery-powered models are designed to turn on when an alert is issued. These are a great idea for your home, but when sleeping in a tent or RV, their value is beyond calculation.
Don’t ever rely on a cell phone. There was no cell phone reception for the campers at Albert Pike, and most great backcountry spots are the same way. The best way to signal for help in an emergency is by using a Personal Locator Beacon. These powerful devices could save your life, but summoning search and rescue when not absolutely necessary puts everyone in danger and could eventually result in these devices being taken off the market. For more on this topic, read Plugging Into the Backcountry – Dangers of Technology.
Nature is a Friend and Foe
It is important to note that the Arkansas campers could have followed these guidelines and still met a similar fate. This flash flood was a tragedy that no one could have imagined. After all, lifelong residents and visitors had seen the river flood, but never to this extreme level. It illustrates the need for constant attention to your surroundings, day or night.
The dangers we normally avoid in our luxurious lives can be thrust into our faces at the most unexpected times when we’re out-of-doors. That is what the thrill of the outdoors is all about, but it is vital to understand that life is a struggle against the forces of nature, and when you head out to someplace remote (or even just a campground), you are stacking the odds against yourself. Be safe; be prepared.
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Tags: Albert Pike Campground, Arkansas flood, camp safety, camping, car camping, flash flood preparedness, flash flood prevention, RVing