Northwest Arkansas Towns Bracing for Flooding Event

"The water started rising and rising and rising," says Jose Romero.

The 13-year-old vividly remembers April 25, 2011.

"We saw the police come, the firefighters, and we got worried so we had to leave," he says.

Much of the mobile home park where Jose's family lives was under water that day.

Emergency crews were sent in on boats to get people out of danger.

Now, those same vessels are ready for another rescue if needed.

"We've got two boats ready to go, fueled, for our community but also to assist Fayetteville or Springdale if they need assistance," says Battalion Chief Konrad Anderson with the Johnson Fire Department. "We are pulling in extra manpower."

Meteorologists are forecasting anywhere from six to ten inches of rain for Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley over the next few days.

The fire department knows the city could get hit hard by this storm system, so firefighters are spending the day getting equipment ready.

But Chief Anderson also urges the public to be prepared for the worst.

"Get things together in case they do have to evacuate quickly," he says. "When water is starting to enter your house, you're already too late."

As the rain starts to fall, Jose finds himself having flash flood flashbacks.

"I'm concerned a little bit that it might flood all over again and we might have to leave."

But he hopes it doesn't come to that.