Langley-- Albert Pike Rec Area (Montgomery County)

Rainfall estimates from NWS

On June 11, 2010, a flash flood on the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas claimed the lives of 20 people camping in or near Albert Pike Recreation Area. The Little Missouri River, which runs through the area, rose rapidly while campers slept. This was the deadliest flash flood in Arkansas history. The floods were caused by heavy rain on the evening of June 10 and the early morning of June 11 in the Ouachita National Forest, causing the Little Missouri and Caddo Rivers to rise at a rate of up to 8 feet per hour. The Little Missouri peaked at over 23 feet near Langley, up from its ordinary level of 3 feet. The floods affected camping sites around the rivers. A flood of this size had not occurred in the area since records began in 1988.

Warnings were issued in advance of the flooding; however, the warnings may not have been heard due to the remoteness of the affected areas. Emergency management officials stated the search and rescue efforts were difficult as the number of missing was unknown, and the missing were not necessarily confined to campsites. A logbook at the Albert Pike Recreational Area that would have helped track the whereabouts of hikers was swept away in the flood, leaving rescuers with little idea how many hikers could be missing. Rescue efforts were also hampered by roads rendered inaccessible by the flooding; some searchers used canoes or kayaks. A call center set up by the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management received inquiries in respect of 73 people who may have been missing.