Washington – U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, along with Representative Mike Ross (AR-04) today sent the following letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell thanking them for their recent visits to the Albert Pike campground and for their agency’s efforts to assist Arkansans who have been impacted by last week’s flash flooding in that area. Senators Lincoln and Pryor and Rep Ross asked that the agencies continue working not only to clean up and rebuild, but to improve the weather emergency warning systems at the campground.
“We would like for you to work with the United States Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and state and local officials to determine how to improve emergency warning systems for campground visitors at Albert Pike,” the letter reads. “We know the rugged terrain and remote location of Albert Pike, conditions that exist at a number of campgrounds located in our country’s National Forests, pose cumbersome barriers to effective communication with the outside world. Innovative solutions will be needed to meet the challenges the terrain presents so we can help ensure the safety of the visitors in the area.”
