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Barges hit Webbers Falls Lock and Dam People in Webbers Falls were evacuated in case the barges hit the dam. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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RIGHT NOW - THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS INSPECTING THE DAM FOR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. THEY ARE EXPECTING THAT INSPECTION TO OVER WITH BY 6 TONIGHT. THE BARGES HIT HARD - PEOPLE MILES AWAY TELL US THEY HEARD IT THIS IS VIDEO AGAIN FROM AROUND NOON HERE AT THE LOCK AND DAM AROUND. THE BARGES WERE STUCK ON ROCKS NEAR SPANIARD CREEK BEFORE COMING LOOSE THANKS TO FLOODWATERS. OFFICIALS HAD BOATS ON THE WATER WATCHING THE BARGES, BUT THE WATER WAS MOVING SO FAST THEY COULDN'T GET CLOSE TO IT. THE BARGES GOT AROUND A BEND BEFORE MAKING IT TO THE DAM. OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY PATROL TELLS US THEY WEREN'T SURE IF THE DAM WOULD HOLD AFTER IMPACT HIGHWAY 64 AND THE INTERSTATE 40 BRIDGE WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL THE CONDITION OF THE DAM IS ASSESSED. THE LEFLORE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER KIM WANN SAYS SHE IS PREPARING PARTS OF HER COUNTY FOR POTENTIAL FLOODING DOWNSTREAM. SHE SAYS THE COWLINGTON AREA NEAR THE WHEN THE BARGES COLLIDED WITH THE DAM THE SEQUOYAH COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER SAYS THEY WERE FULL OF FERTILIZER. IT'S NOT YET CLEAR WHAT IMPACT THAT WILL HAVE ON THE AREA. LIVE IN WEBBERS FALLS TAYLOR PANNELL 40/29 NEWS. EARLIER TODAY WE SPOKE TO A LOCAL RESIDENT SHARON HORNBACK. SHE HAS LIVED IN THE AREA FOR YEARS BUT HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. "I have live here my whole life and been to that lock and dam many times just specifically to watch the water as it comes through and as I said this is probably the first time in history that it's ever been this fast." WE DO KNOW THE UPDATED FLOWS FOR THE ARKANSAS RIVER ARE EXPECTED TO EXCEED THE FLOWS EXPERIENCED IN MAY OF 1990. THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS. THAT IS THE FORECAST AND THOSE CAN CHANGE BUT THAT IS THE LATEST. THE RED CROSS IS ON STANDBY TONIGHT-- READY TO HELP PEOPLE DISPLACED BY POTENTIAL FLOODING. THEY SAY LOCAL TEAMS WILL MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE SHELTER-- FOOD-- AND WATER. VOLUNTEERS SAY THEY'RE READY TO OPEN SHELTERS - IF NEEDED. THERE IS MASSIVE FLOODING IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AS WELL AND YOU CAN DONATE TO THE RED CROSS IF YOU WANT TO HELP VICTIM