(PM) — Emergency officials declare an Arkansas River levee has breached, urging a flash flood warning and evacuation of a rustic town in western Arkansas.
The levee breached early Friday morning at Dardanelle, located approximately 60 miles (95 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock. County officials previously predicted the levee breach and directed residents in the nearby Holla Bend region to vacate the area on Thursday.
Emergency management directors say teams are meticulously traveling door-to-door to make sure people vacate from about 160 homes.
National Weather Service data reveal a drop in the water level, most likely due to the levee break. A flash flood warning went into effect on early Friday for the region, and forecasters said homeowners should prepare for rapidly rising water.
The levee breached because of continuous flooding along the Arkansas River, which originated in Oklahoma.