Shock Turns to Grief for Flash Flood Survivors

The search goes on for survivors and victims of the flash floods that tore through campgrounds in western Arkansas Friday. At least 18 people are dead, and another two dozen are reported missing.

At first light Saturday, as many as 200 rescuers took to the rough river and the rugged terrain that makes up the Albert Pike Camp Grounds desperately searching the flood ravaged area for missing campers, CBS News Correspondent Cynthia Bowers reports.

The day was extremely hot and disappointing for searchers who went out hoping to find victims but came home bearing bodies instead.

"It's trying on them," said Arkansas State Police Capt. Mike Fletcher. "It's hard to walk in there. You know, it's getting hotter as the day goes along."

The death toll rose Saturday and is expected to continue. One-third of the dead are children. Officials say recovery could take weeks

"We're going to continue this for as long as it takes," Fletcher said.

Shell-shocked victims found shelter at a nearby church, including two mothers forced to endure unimaginable heartbreak.

"All four boys drowned, and the 7 year old is missing," the Rev. Graig Cowart of Pilgrim Rest Landmark Missionary Baptist Church said.

Janice McCrae has lived here most of her life. She says this area is all about families spending time together. She remembers other floods but nothing like this one.

"I didn't have a clue," said McCrae. "I was not forewarned at all."

The rugged isolation that makes this place so special contributed to the disaster with high mountains to the east and west of the river and campsites in the river valley below.

Seven to 9 inches of rain falling in sheets raced down the rocky slopes in the early hours Friday. The Caddo and Little Missouri rivers rose an incredible 8 feet an hour from 3 feet to 23 feet, taking everything in their path including trailers, campsites, men, women and children.

For survivors, shock is now grief as the devastating loss of life begins to hit home.

"When you have an event like this that is catastrophic, it's hard for you to wrap your mind around what is going on," Cowart said.

Families of the missing remain in a hellish limbo not wanting to give up hope but realizing time to find survivors is running out.