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Flooding threatens state; day care evacuated

By Arkansas Online Press Services

Little Rock firefighter William Bowden carries a small child through knee-high water Friday as the final two employees leave the Dreamland Child Development Center.

Photo by Staton Breidenthal

Little Rock firefighter William Bowden carries a small child through knee-high water Friday as the final two employees leave the Dreamland Child Development Center.

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Information for this article was contributed by Jacob Quinn Sanders of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and The Associated Press.

LITTLE ROCK — A flash-flood warning is in place throughout much of Arkansas as storms continue to dump rain on the state. High water forced a Little Rock day care to close, while some barns at the State Fairgrounds were at risk of flooding, according to reports.

The Dreamland Child Development Center on Stagecoach Road was evacuated amid the flooding. Firefighters waded through thigh-high water in the parking lot as they helped children out of the building, which looked to be without power.

In North Little Rock, the Bright Beginnings day care closed because of the collapse of a roof under construction.

The state fair starts today, and livestock are already in place.

The National Weather Service issued the warning Friday for all of northern and northwest Arkansas, continuing south to Pulaski County in central Arkansas and Miller County in the southwest part of the state.

Forecasters say a line of showers and isolated thunderstorms will move southeast, reaching parts of south central and southeast Arkansas. Widespread rain and isolated thunderstorms is expected to cover all of northern and western Arkansas.

The National Weather Service says that 1 to 3 inches of rain fell within an hour Friday morning, with an additional 1-2 inches possible.

Officials say the White River at Hardy was approaching flood stage Friday morning. The river was at 9.4 feet at 7 a.m. Flood stage is 10 feet. Officials also reported minor flooding at the Ouachita River at Camden and at Calion in Union County.

Officials also reported minor flooding at the Ouachita River at Camden and at Calion in Union County.

The Pulaski County sheriff's office has barricaded and closed several roads in central Arkansas:

• German Road, Little Rock

• Jim Hall Road, North Little Rock

• Batesville Pike at Bratchett, North Little Rock

• Lawson Road at Sparks Road, Little Rock

• Lawson Road at Faulkner Road, Little Rock

• Reed Rd & Kelly Road, North Little Rock

• Crystal Hill Road at Kelly Road, North Little Rock

• 15900 Raines Road, Little Rock

• Crystal Valley at Col. Miller, Little Rock

• 3500 Frazier Pike, Little Rock

• Szymanski Road, Little Rock

• State Hwy 365 at King Road, Little Rock

This article was originally published October 9, 2009 at 7:50 a.m.
Updated October 9, 2009 at 12:00 p.m.

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