An estimated four thousand gallons of water was donated to flood victims in Scott County Thursday (June 6). It's going to homes where well water could be contaminated from last week's floods.
Approximately 1,000 gallons of water was donated by the River Valley Regional Food Bank. Another 3,000 gallons of water was shipped in by Mountain Valley Water later Thursday afternoon. The supply should get residents through the next week or so. Other items such as heavy duty bleach and snacks have also been donated to the county.
Authorities say flash flooding in the county could've possibly exposed the well water and the rural water in the county to bacteria, possibly contaminating it and leaving some people in the area without clean water to drink.
"We really need it right now," Tom Stewart, the Scott County Shop Foreman, said. "So the water and the food sources that are coming our way it's graciously...I don't even know what words to say...just that we thank them for it."
The flood waters also washed away county roads, bridges and even destroyed peoples homes.
"There's a lot of people that are dispersed, that don't have homes," Stewart said. "And then with the death of our sheriff and the game warden, it's just made it pretty hard. There's been a lot of crying you know."
Officials with the Arkansas Health Department and the Scott County Health department are in the affected area so they can bleach the wells that had flood water and debris over them.
Scott County Judge James Forbes is asking people not to drink out of them until the test results come back from the lab in Little Rock. Health department officials will continue to gather samples on Monday and Tuesday.
This only affects people who have been contacted by the Arkansas Health Department.
Water from all other areas of the county are safe to drink.
If you have a flooded well, please contact your local health unit for more information.