Arkansas homeowner doesn't give up

KTurner · May 18, 2011

NC tractor driver said:
May 8, 2011: Resilient Arkansas Homeowner Tenaciously Builds Moat To Stop Flood [VIDEO]

Just wow. What a lot of work, but worth it.

Does anyone have any updates? This video appears to have been taken a few days ago.

kebo · May 18, 2011

I commend him for his effort, tenacity, and desire to save his home but man.... almost gotta wonder is it worth it? He doesn't have power (maybe a generator), probably no sewer or water and likely hasn't had it for a week or so cause he probably had to bust the water & sewer lines for the moat. It had to cost quite a bit to dig the moat, and then build up the dike at the same time. Now he's having to maintain it by pumping water out and constantly reinforcing the dike with sand bags. Looks like a 24/7 job to keep it all in check, not an easy challenge for anyone with limited resources. Looks like he's got some friends/family helping out though. Hope they can outlast the flood!

aczlan · May 18, 2011

Speaking of pumps, that pump looks like the ones that they use around here to pump out the lagoons. Wonder if he does that for his "day job"?

Aaron Z

Verticaltrx · May 18, 2011

After watching the video I was wondering what he used to dig the moat with? The only piece of equipment I could see on the inside was that JD running the pump, wonder if he dug all that with the loader?

crazyal · May 18, 2011

schmism said:
whos to say he wont? ask FEMA or insurance to cover $2000 worth of fuel for the tractor and trackhoe to make/fill in the moat and its peanuts compared to the 100K they would have paid out.

I hope does get something for his efforts but that's a awful lot of work. Too bad most would rather just walk away than do the work.

teg said:
Who says he has insurance... I have it an it's very expensive. I say good for him on trying, and having the means to be able to help himself...

Not sure if it's different down there but if you get a mortgage on a house up here they have historic flood charts and if you're close you have to have flood insurance. Even if I didn't have a mortgage I would still bite the bullet and have insurance.

JoeinTX · May 18, 2011

"After watching the video I was wondering what he used to dig the moat with? The only piece of equipment I could see on the inside was that JD running the pump, wonder if he dug all that with the loader?..."

Looking at the moat itself, it wasn't dug with a dozer. The slope is too great and the edges are very rough.......not the even, gradual nature of a dozer digging a tank or pond. I simply can't believe the guy moved that much dirt with his JD tractor and loader in any recent period of time. Obviously, the dirt from the moat was used to build the levee wall so check the video again and the distances from Point A to Point B.

The moat/wall was dug with excavators and some decent sized ones at that. The little JD has muddy tires and may have been used to do some tidy-up work but I can't imagine any more than that.

@kebo, yeah it's one **** of an effort to save the literal homestead alright. The house doesn't look old and as far as one can see from the video the house is the focus of the effort.

So, these people:

-Had serious equipment working on-site in a concentrated period of time to build the edifice we see.
-They are seriously worried about the house and what's in it.
-They also have some serious outside support and help from, presumably, people who's houses are 8' deep at the moment.

Is this a local politician? Some extraordinary local citizen who's garnered unbelievable community support? A local contractor who's used his own equipment to build this dirt monument, then shunted it off to points dry, and then his employees are working and recording the effort?

crazyal · May 18, 2011

My guess is it was also done with a large excavator. Possibly a contractor who had the equipment or someone who knew how to operate one and rented it. In less than a day that wall could have been dug. It also wasn't tall enough so that's why they are adding sandbags to the top. Either way I'm impressed. It could be as simple as he built the house and has great attachment to it.

I would love to know if he was able to stay ahead of the rising water.

Gale Hawkins · May 18, 2011

Man that is a lot of work now and later. I hope the water goes down soon.

I agree it if one is going to build in there it would be cheaper to initally raise the house:thumbsup:

JB4310 · May 18, 2011

Gale Hawkins said:
Man that is a lot of work now and later. I hope the water goes down soon.

I agree it if one is going to build in there it would be cheaper to initally raise the house:thumbsup:

But this is a once in an 80 - 100 year event. No one, not even his grand pappy when he was a boy ever thought the water would get that high.

What an incredible effort, that poor guy is gonna have to be on suicide watch if his levy fails.
There was another one on the news where a woman had a berm built around her house, no where as big as this one, but it failed in one small spot and the water rushed in and flooded everything. I felt so sorry for her.

JB