Heavy rain floods Brookland

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - An hour-long thunderstorm dumped more than three inches of rain on Brookland, flooding streets and many residents’ yards.

Chief Meteorologist Ryan Vaughan said 3.16 inches of rain fell on the town within an hour Friday, Aug. 5, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Flash Flood Warning for Craighead County until 4:30 p.m.

Much of the flooding was located off of Highway 49, where there was about a mile-long stretch from the high school down to city hall which had water up to residents’ shins.

Norma Hayes was one of those residents, who in an interview with Region 8 News, couldn’t even leave her home due to the high waters.

“I thought, ‘Lord, help me please,’ because I had never seen anything like it,” she said. “But when they dug that end out over there, I am getting all the water from up there, and it’s all coming to the yard”

Brookland Mayor Kenneth Jones explained it was a spot where they were working on the drains, adding even when you prepare, the rain could still be too much.

“That cloud built up over us and just sat here, and the rain just came down and you know, you can do everything you can do to help the draining, but mother nature will show you one time everything you don’t have is not enough,” he said.

Jones said from the time the rain started, crews in the area were handing out sandbags to residents.

He added crews will be helping all night, and if you still need assistance, call the Brookland city hall at 870-935-0538.

Region 8 News will continue to follow this story for more details.

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