Arkansas Blog

Flooding has damaged water supply the cities of Leslie (Searcy County) and Newark (Independence), and the Arkansas National Guard has been called in to supply 5,000 gallon tanks of water to the communities.

Gov. Beebe declared 26 counties (Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Crawford, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Logan, Madison, Marion, Nevada, Newton, Randolph, Scott, Searcy, Sharp, Stone and Washington) disaster areas earlier today.

Floodwaters are still rising in some areas and the governor's office said more counties may be added to the list.

The Guard said one of the main water lines in Leslie collapsed and Newark's water plant had flooded. Photos of flooding are posted on the Batesville Guard website.