The search for victims of the flash flood that swept away campers at the Albert Pike Recreation Area is continuing Tuesday despite the discovery and tentative identification of a 20th victim Monday.
Arkansas State Police spokesman Bill Sadler said that recovery appears to have cleared a list of unaccounted campers that was compiled Friday after discussions with family members.
"But that is not to say that there may be other individuals who perished in the floodwaters that we don't know about," Sadler cautioned.
Authorities have released the names of 18 of the 20 victims. Sadler said DNA tests confirming the identities of the final two victims are not yet complete.
The search of the debris-strewn area surrounding the Little Missouri river has been scaled down but is ongoing. Sadler said police are reevaluating whether it will continue on a day-by-day basis.
Meanwhile, Rep. Mike Ross led the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday in a moment of silence to honor the lives lost in the recent flash floods that swept through the Albert Pike Recreational Area in southwest Arkansas.
Joined by Texas Congressmen Ralph Hall, R-Tex., and John Fleming, R-La., whose nearby districts also lost lives, Ross asked the chamber to observe a moment of silence “in remembrance of each and every life we lost in this tragedy.”
As the chamber began its legislative business, every member of the House stood, heads bowed, for one minute at Ross’ request. Below are Ross’ remarks:
“Remembering Flash Flood Victims”
Mr. Speaker, in the early morning hours of Friday, June 11, a sudden and devastating flash flood swept through the Albert Pike campground in southwest Arkansas. In just 4 short hours, the Little Missouri River along the Ouachita National Forest rose from 3 feet to 23 feet.
The flood swept away tents, RVs and homes, and, tragically, took 20 lives, including many children, making it one of Arkansas's deadliest flash floods in a generation. However, this tragedy's impact is far-reaching, as many of the victims were from surrounding States, including from Congressman Hall's district in Texas and from Congressman Fleming's district in Louisiana. They join me here this evening as we remember those who died in this flood.
I also want to commend the outstanding work of our first responders--local, State, Federal — and fellow Arkansans who reacted without hesitation and rescued literally dozens of people from the debris and rushing waters. This weekend, I, along with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell and Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, saw the devastation firsthand and spoke with families who lost loved ones.
My deepest thoughts and prayers and those of all Arkansans and all Americans are with the families who lost loved ones in these destructive flash floods.
Mr. Speaker, I join Congressman Hall and Congressman Fleming in asking that the House now observe a moment of silence in remembrance of each and every life we lost in this tragedy.