New Stats Show Arkansas Had Most 2011 Flood Deaths

Statistics released by the National Weather Service this week show that 18 Arkansans died in floods in 2011 – the largest amount out of any state in the nation.

All of the deaths happened in the months of March, April and May when storms and floods ravaged Arkansas. The state with the second-highest fatality number was Pennsylvania with 16. Out of all the surrounding states, Missouri had the highest amount with three deaths.

The weather service says northern and central Arkansas ended the year with above-normal rainfall in 2011, but the northeast received the most at up to 150 percent above average.

Still, Arkansas was down four flood fatalities from the previous year, when 20 people were killed during a single flood at the Albert Pike campsite in June 2010.