Region 8 victim identified in Tuesday night's storms - KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports

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Region 8 victim identified in Tuesday night's storms

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Vilonia, AR (Source: The Loop) Vilonia, AR (Source: The Loop)
Pocahontas, AR (Source: The Loop) Pocahontas, AR (Source: The Loop)
Portia, AR (Source: The Loop) Portia, AR (Source: The Loop)
White River in Batesville, AR (Source: The Loop) White River in Batesville, AR (Source: The Loop)
Cherokee Village, AR (Source: The Loop) Cherokee Village, AR (Source: The Loop)

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JONESBORO, AR (KAIT) - Strong storms and heavy rains battered much of Arkansas Monday and Tuesday evening causing multiple confirmed deaths in the state.

There is now an 11th confirmed death in the state of Arkansas from the recent round of severe weather.  According to the Sharp County Coroner 48-year-old JoAnne Bradley was killed when her home, off Shelbyville Road off of Highway 230, was destroyed by a suspected tornado that hit around 9pm Tuesday night. Coroner Doug Worthman said her body was found by her son about 50 yards outsider her home. Bradley is the only known victim from Tuesday night's storms that hammered Arkansas.

A number of tornadoes touched down in central Arkansas. Damage and injuries were reported in Garland County in the Hot Springs area. A large tornado tore a path through Vilonia in Faulkner County. Trees and power lines were reported down in western White County. Several homes in Polk County were damaged in Tuesday's storms.

So far, there have been 10 other confirmed deaths in the state: 4 in Vilonia, 5 NW Arkansas, and 1 in Benton County.  The Fire chief in Vilonia says everyone in the town is accounted for.

Heavy rains continue to pour into already swollen rivers. Evacuations for about 1,000 residents was ordered Monday morning for southern sections of Poplar Bluff, Missouri. The Black River has topped the levee system in several spots in the southern parts of the county. That water is headed to northern Clay County. Residents around McDougal are asked to move to higher ground. The Black River is expected to crest Tuesday afternoon in the area.

The Spring River in Sharp and Lawrence Counties could reach and even surpass 2008 levels. The river rose sharply Monday night as more rain fell in the area. 

Do not drive into areas where water crosses the roadway. It only takes a few inches of fast moving water to move a car off the road.

Click here for a full list of Arkansas road closings.

Click here for the MoDot Interactive Flood Map and here for road closings and conditions

Gov. Mike Beebe has declared a state of emergency for Arkansas as severe storms have injured several people, destroyed a church and stranded others in cars and homes in the central part of the state.

Click here to go to the interactive radar.

Beebe spokesman Matt DeCample says the state won't likely know the extent of damage caused by Monday's flooding and tornadoes until Tuesday or Wednesday.

Gov. Nixon in Missouri has activated the National Guard in Poplar Bluff, helping with sandbagging and doing door-to-door checks. For more information on the situation in Poplar Bluff click here.

Copyright 2011 KAIT. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.