Forest Service Has No Flood Emergency Plan, Notification System

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The U.S. Forest Service acknowledges in a new report that the agency had no warning plan in place the night 20 people died in a flash flood in southwestern Arkansas.

The Forest Service released the report Friday about the deadly June flood. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the Forest Service will make changes nationwide as a result. The Forest Service says it will put in place an emergency notification system and evacuation plans. It will also train staff and volunteers on the plans.

A storm system dumped a tremendous amount of rain onto the mountains that drain into the Little Missouri River early on June 11. The water rose in a torrent, tumbling over recreational vehicles, ripping away tents and killing seven children and 13 adults in the process.

Comments

[Dave Cox]

12:34 AM on 10/23/2010

Pardon me for saying this but as a resident of Montana and user of Forest Service campgrounds all my life, I feel it necessary to give you all a noogie and say "No shit! There is no notification system IN THE FOREST! If you can't figure out that rain makes the creek rise, you should spend your vacation time in a motel. Now we have to install sirens IN THE FOREST? Do everyone a favor and don't leave the city, folks. Or sign your kids up for Scouts and get involved enough that you can get a little education in how the natural world works before you venture out into it. You all make me embarrassed to be as slightly left-leaning as I am. GAWD

[devildog09]

10:24 PM on 10/22/2010

Well, Obama inherited the lack of plans from the Bush administration...they've been trying to fix this but it takes time

[2012willbebetter]

10:42 PM on 10/22/2010

nice try..it is CLEAR that Obama cares only about Obama...not America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ArchAngel]

10:18 PM on 10/22/2010

I volunteer with the Forest Service.

The Forest Service's budgets have been massively starved well beyond bare minimum safety thresholds.

[devildog09]

10:29 PM on 10/22/2010

Unfortunately all the federal agencies claim to be massively starved for money, despite massive increases in spending (like 25%) over the last few years. In the case of the forest service it might help if they stopped building those multi-million dollar outhouses we keep reading about, and the multimillion dollar visitor centers in closed areas where visitors are not allowed.

[geejai54]

09:26 PM on 10/22/2010

The Forest Department does not have the primary responsibility for Flood Emergency plans.

[malander]

09:21 PM on 10/22/2010

If the Tea Party gets in power, will they cut Federal Flood insurance? I hope so, why should I pay for someone in another state who builds a house on a river? Tea Party what say you? What will you cut to make budget?

[dollyllama10]

10:08 PM on 10/22/2010

You do realize that flood insurance isn't paid for by taxpayers, it's paid for by the homeowners, right?

[malander]

11:12 PM on 10/22/2010

But it is government insurance. Why won't private insurance companies issue policies? Becuase they are too expensive.

[filo]

09:07 PM on 10/22/2010

I'll bet the Government has contingency plans to invade any country in the world especially Iran, North Korea and Somalia

[Itsbeenalongday]

09:59 PM on 10/22/2010

There is money in war, there is none in a flood.