Arkansas Leads Nation in Flood-Related Deaths

Each year, flooding kills an average of 60 people in the United States. In 2011, 18 people died due to flash flooding in Arkansas.

The NWS released the statistics as part of its Flood Safety Awareness Week. Statistics show flooding kills more people each year that tornadoes or lightning.

Here's an in-depth breakdown of flooding deaths in Arkansas last year:

Near Luxora (Mississippi Co.), March 20 - A woman was killed when the vehicle in which she was a passenger drove into floodwaters. The driver of the vehicle lost control due to the strong current and the vehicle filled with water.

Near Casa (Perry Co.), April 25 - A man was killed when he exited the feed truck he was driving to remove a log in the road and was swept away by floodwaters.

Bentonville (Benton Co.), April 25 - Two men were killed after their vehicle drove around a barricade and was washed off a low-water bridge.

Witter (Madison Co.), April 25 - A man and a woman were killed after floodwaters washed their vehicle off a road.

Moffitt (Washington Co.), April 25 - A woman was killed after her vehicle stalled in high water, she exited the vehicle, and was washed downstream.

Mayflower (Faulkner Co.), May 1 - A man was killed when his vehicle went off the road into a ditch and became submerged.

Northeast of Furlow (Lonoke Co.), May 3 - A man was killed when he drove around barricades on Arkansas Highway 236 and entered floodwaters several feet deep.

Near Des Arc (Prairie Co.), May 4 - The body of a drowning victim was found near his house in the North Side community.

Near Shannon (Randolph Co.), May 7 - A woman drowned when her vehicle was swept of U.S. Highway 67.

Near Birdeye (Cross Co.), May 11 - A man drowned in floodwaters on Arkansas Highway 42 after he drove around signs indicating that the road was closed.

Near Evening Star (Greene Co.), May 14 - A man went to check on his flooded house. On the way back, he apparently was unable to tell where the road was in the floodwaters. He went off the road into the water and drowned.

Near Gallatin (Benton Co.), May 23 - Two women and two children were killed when a car was washed off the road.

Near Hasty (Newton Co.), May 24 - A man was killed while swimming in the Buffalo National River at Blue Hole. The strength of the current swept the man downstream and he drowned.

(Flood death information for 2011 from the National Weather Service)