Storm Brings Lightening Strikes And Flash Flooding

Sunday evening between 6 and 6:30 p.m., a transformer at Mercy Hospital on Rogers Ave was struck by lightening.  Power was provided by a backup generator while crews with the electric company worked to replace the transformer.  According to Director of Marketing & Communications for the hospital, Natalie Hardin, patient areas were affected by the inci- dent.  The transformer was replaced in approximately eight hours.

As of early Monday morning, there were more than 1,000 homes and businesses still with- out power.  There was also flash flooding caused by the storm.  Vehicles were washed off the road between Ft. Smith and Van Buren.

According to the National Weather Service, in Van Buren the river gauge measured 4.84" of rainfall in two hours.  Just after 8 p.m., residents of Ft. Smith and Van Buren were warned by the National Weather Service of "life-threatening" flooding.

More thunderstorms are being forecast between Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon.

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