VAN BUREN - Crawford County officials are continuing to monitor one of the area’s levees as flood waters continue to take their toll on the Arkansas River banks. The Van Buren Police Department has released the following statement:
“The Van Buren levee continues to be closely monitored, and it is currently functioning as designed. However, due to constant heavy water flow, and other factors related to the flood, there is a portion of the levee in Crawford County showing signs of significant leakage and deterioration.
This area of concern is located in a rural part of Crawford County, near the Yoestown Bottoms, and steps have been taken to repair and reinforce this portion of the levee.
Those steps have helped alleviate some concerns, but this does cause a heightened risk of a levee breach.
If this area of the levee does breach, properties will be impacted. The Van Buren Police Department and Crawford County Sheriff’s Office are taking steps to notify property owners in the areas with increased risk of flooding.
In the event of a levee breach or increased risk of flooding, we will notify residents and businesses by an automated telephone call. The call will include a pre-recorded message alert describing the risk of flooding.”