BENTONVILLE — For the second time in three weeks, heavy rain prompted a disaster declaration for Benton County.
County Judge Bob Clinard signed the disaster proclamation Friday morning after being briefed on damage during the night.
“At one point, I think we had up to 40 roads closed,” Clinard said at midday Friday. “I’ve heard we had up to 6 inches of rain in some places in the county. I had people emailing me asking ‘Why is Benton County 40 closed?’ It’s because it was flooded.”
Washington County officials said roads didn't have major damage from Thursday night’s heavy rain. The National Weather Service reported 1-1.5 inches of rain fell Thursday and early Friday.
At A Glance
Flooding Closes Some Village Courses
Three Bella Vista golf courses will be closed through the weekend because of flooding, the Property Owners Association announced. Berksdale, Kingswood and Bella Vista Country Club golf courses are expected to open Monday. The front nine holes at the Scotsdale Golf Course will be closed through the weekend, said Casey Crittenden, golf maintenance manager.
Source: Property Owners Association
The bridge over Ball Street in Johnson flooded, said John Luther, director of Washington County’s Department of Emergency Management. There was slight property damage near one western Washington County home, he said.
Washington County road crews worked Friday morning to clean up debris in northern areas of the county, said Shawn Shrum, assistant road superintendent.
About 16 streets were closed Thursday night in Bentonville, said Mike Churchwell, director of transportation. Opal Road was the only street that remained closed Friday. Churchwell said the street will likely be closed for several days.
Jack Brown, road construction supervisor for the county Road Department, said his initial estimate is damage from flooding will come close to that done in the April 18 storm.
“We have still got a lot of high water,” Brown said. “We can’t tell a lot yet. It’s going to be heavy damage.”
Robert McGowen, director of the county Emergency Management Agency, said most roads were open by midafternoon Friday.
“To my knowledge, there are five that are still closed at this time,” McGowen said.
McGowen said Snavely Road will be closed near Snavely Road Bridge for some time.
“We’ve got a 200- to 250-yard area on one side of the road and another 100-yard area on the other side where the asphalt and a lot of the base has just washed away,” McGowen said. “That’s what happens when water gets underneath the pavement.”
McGowen said officials were checking a problem on Wood Lodge Road in the Avoca area Friday afternoon that initially was reported as a sinkhole or a collapsed culvert.