Lack of communications leads to wrongful death suit against feds

A flash flood that killed 20 people in a state bordering Missouri is now at the center of a new lawsuit. Filed late in December, the wrongful death suit seeks damages from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Forest Service.

On June 11, 2010, 13 adults and seven children passed away after the Little Missouri River was flooded by heavy rains. The inundated river swept away many of those who lost their lives.

Sons of the three plaintiffs behind the new lawsuit were among the dead. They were camping with nine others, one of whom was a father. That man and five others with him died.

With records dating back 70 years showing flooding events such as this, one would expect that an efficient communication system would be in place at the campground. During the flood, this was not the case.

Warnings were issued to the area four times in the middle of the night by the National Weather Service, but they were not received. According to reports, the campground had no sirens, no cellphone service and no on-site ranger. In addition, the nearest law enforcement agency was approximately an hour away.

A new transmitter was installed after the fatal flood, but that is of little comfort to the victims' families.

The two federal agencies have been singled out largely due to the lack of communications at the campground. According to the suit, the agencies failed to maintain the campground's severe weather warning system and did not correct known communications problems at the site.

With Missouri a favorite destination for many for camping and canoeing, they should check if a campground they use is up to date with its emergency communications technology. In this case, it appears that some maintenance could have saved lives.

Source: Claims Journal, "3 Texans File Tort Claim Over Deadly Arkansas Flood," Jan. 6, 2012