MANSFIELD, Ark. — Sebastian County has called a state of emergency after water has remained at critically low levels for multiple days.
Now, the Arkansas National Guard (ANG) has arrived to help one local community facing the brunt of the issue.
ANG arrived in Mansfield, an area where many residents have lost all access to water.
Mayor Buddy Black says Mansfield is experiencing an emergency water shortage because of a large leak that has not yet been found in the Mansfield municipal water system. He says the county teams have been searching the lines for days.
"We have found a couple of leaks in town during this process, but it's not the big leak that we're looking for. We know because they're not draining the tank," Black said.
Mayor Black says the storage tank needs to fill back up to about 80 percent so there is enough water pressure flowing through the system.
Mansfield resident Tia Broderick says her family of six and farm have been without water for two days straight now. She says it's been tough but she's grateful for the resources the city has available.
"It's been hard," Broderick said. "These guys do everything they can for us. This is more than we could ask for and everyone rallying together as they are it's been amazing to see."
Broderick brought a "water bladder" to the Mansfield water department that can fill up about 60 gallons of water.
"With how much we use water and how much we rely on it at our farm. This will last us for the day," Broderick said.
Broderick's family isn't the only one that has sought help from the department today. The National Guard told 5NEWS about 50 people have stopped by to fill up multiple containers of water.
"We've dispensed, between our truck and their two buffaloes inside, we've pushed out probably close to 500 gallons," a spokesperson for the National Guard said.
Mayor Black says the tank is at about 70 percent capacity and should make it to 80 by tomorrow morning.
While the city works to find and fix the leak, the National Guard will be at the fire department with water over the weekend into Monday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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