ROGERS, Ark. — As Memorial Day weekend 2024 arrives in the Natural State, many are enjoying the water the natural way. Families are now safety as severe weather is expected for the area this weekend.
Campers started their weekends early, setting up their tents and campers at Prairie Creek Campgrounds on Thursday. David Lamer of Bella Vista encourages others to camp, saying getting out in nature helps him.
"Get away from the hustle and the bustle of work and just relax, do a little meditation, and maybe cook a lot of really good food," Lamer said.
He anticipates the park will be full this Memorial Day.
"The beauty is unbelievable, and so the parks are full," Lamer said. "There should be a really busy weekend here."
Lamer picked out his spot early to make it through the waves of Memorial Day visitors. He says he's thankful he did so in a hybrid camper, so he can comfortably see waves of severe weather this weekend.
"This is definitely a weekend where things can change quickly, and we'll deal with it one way or another," Lamer said.
It's not the same sentiment for campers like Kailey John, who has been camping with her husband and children in tents.
"It worries me," John said. "As long as we have, you know, the ability to be notified if something were to happen, we have a plan."
John had already spent some time out on the campgrounds with her family, even through a tornado watch. She had stayed up and kept up to date on the weather coverage on her phone.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Spokesperson Jay Townsend advises anyone on the lake to stay updated on the weather for the region. The Corps of Engineers advises anyone in the water to get out during a lightning storm. For anything severe, officials say to seek shelter in a hardened structure.
"Those are the vault restroom buildings. Those are probably the safest places in those areas. But if you have enough time, you know get to a place with a basement or a public shelter," Townsend said.
Last week, the USACE closed 10 of the lake's 12 swimming beaches because of poor water conditions, but all beaches except the Dam Site Lake Island were reopened on Friday, May 24.
He explained that the corps has to have 2 days of tests with clean water samples. On Thursday, the corps received clean results for the tests performed on Monday, and after Tuesday's test results came back clean, 9 of the 10 beaches that were closed now welcome holiday swimmers.
Townsend says Monday's test Dam Site Island Campground still had poor water conditions.
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