BRINKLEY, Ark. (KTHV) - Homes and airports are still underwater in Brinkley on Tuesday, and now, Governor Beebe is getting involved.
On Tuesday, the Governor toured the area by boat.
The Red Cross just announced that they are opening up an emergency shelter in Monroe County because of the flooding that's left about 35 homes underwater.
That will open at 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the First Baptist Church at 215 Elm Street in Brinkley.
Meanwhile, when Governor Beebe visited, he assured people that more help is on the way.
"These folks are hurtin. Farming is the livelihood for them over here," said Beebe.
Governor Beebe saw the hurt first hand. "When they see something like this it devastates their whole year."
Beebe said they know how the water got there, and now Brinkley has to figure out how to fix it.
Monroe County Emergency Services Director Philip Norman said they've been trying to fix Piney Ditch for years.
"It's still a problem. It's going to take something to fix it. And we don't know exactly what it's going to take," said Norman.
Flooding is affecting Chad McLain everywhere he goes; in the air or on the ground. "It's just been a real pain is what it's been."
McLain's farm is in Wheatley. He said they got a little more than a foot of rain, which destroyed about two thirds of his bean crop.
Leaving his farm behind, he goes to work at the airport and encounters more flooding. "We're using makeshift facilities just to get by."
He's been able to take off around the water to fertilize other farms spared by the flooding. "It's just been a tough go.The damage is to each and every business out here."
Gerry Freyermuth with the Brinkley Airport Commission said there is significant water damage, and they just spent millions of dollars resurfacing the runway.
"It's been very devastating to all of these businesses that operate here."
Devastating, but with time, they'll bounce back. "We're just chugging through one day at a time."
Monroe County is still not sure how to fix the drainage problem. All everyone keeps saying is all they can do is wait until the water goes away.
Then, they'll turn to trying to make sure this doesn't happen again.
The governor has also asked for a federal disaster declaration to help farmers who experienced flooding.
Arkansas' congressional delegation has joined the Governor in asking for that help.
More reading:
- Brinkley neighborhood still flooded after heavy rains http://on.kthv.com/1lPsJz5
- Days after rain, flood waters still rising in Brinkley http://on.kthv.com/1lXOf9p
- Red Cross helps east Arkansas clean up after flash floods http://on.kthv.com/1lP6yO1
