No Wind Damage From Tornado
But Heavy Rains and Flooding Cause Road Damage

Arab Street Department crews work to repair damage on 10th St NW after heavy rains flooded a low area causing the road to be closed Wednesday morning.

February 6, 2008
The Wednesday morning weather scenario was eerily similar to the one that produced a devastating tornado across Brindlee Mountain and Arab in 1995.  But this time Arab dodged a bullet as a powerful tornado borne out of a super cell similar to the 1995 tornado moved across the City without ever touching down.  The Jackson County community of Pisgah was not as lucky, as the tornado finally touched down wreaking havoc, destruction and death.  At least one person died in the Pisgah area.

While the winds spared the City, the heavy rains that followed the passing of the storm did not.  Several areas were under several feet of water for a period of time as areas that frequently flood did so once again.

Arab Street Department personnel moved quickly to close Sundown Drive NW, Haynes Road NE and 10th St NW after flood waters made the streets dangerous and impassable.  By mid morning the waters had receded allowing Sundown Drive and Haynes Road to be re-opened.  10th St NW remained closed most of the day as major repairs were made to the damaged road between Sundown and 12th Ave NW.

Arab Street Department employee Randy Monk said that a large portion of 10th St was washed out near Syncro.  Monk said that the heavy rains caused Gilliam Creek to overflow.  The large culvert which normally carries the creek water under 10th St was unable to handle the deluge.  Water rushing across the road washed away the soil covering a large water line that crossed the culvert.  Monk said the loss of soil covering caused the water line to burst at one of the pipe joints.  The high pressure rushing water from the water line quickly eroded the road base creating a large crater.  About one half of the street's paving and base was destroyed.

Monk and a street department crew spent most of the day making emergency repairs to the road.  Monk said that a large load of limestone boulders was brought into fill the crater.  The limestone rocks weigh about 150 pounds each according to Monk.  Once the rock was in place the crew secured the rock in place with concrete.  Monk said that a new base and pavement should be completed by mid-afternoon.  He expected the street to be re-opened to traffic sometime late Wednesday afternoon.