From the Arkansas Advocate:
President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration for Arkansas Tuesday after denying the request last month.
Federal disaster assistance is available to Arkansans in Green, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph, Sharp and Stone counties who were affected by severe storms and tornadoes March 14-15, according to a press release issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Tuesday night.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners with their recovery efforts, according to the release.
The president issued the disaster declaration after a call with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, according to a statement issued by the governor’s office late Tuesday.
“Our entire state is grateful for President Trump’s leadership and assistance as we recover from the devastating storms that struck Arkansas earlier this spring,” Sanders said. “I had a productive conversation with the President in which he expressed his support for our state and I offered my full endorsement of his plans to reform FEMA to save money and provide greater direct assistance to disaster victims.”
Trump has convened a council to review and recommend “improvements or structural changes” to FEMA, and suggested the agency might “go away.” He has also said states would best take care of disasters on their own, with the federal government reimbursing some of the costs.
Under Trump, FEMA has denied federal assistance to Arkansas, West Virginia and Washington state, and refused North Carolina’s request for extended relief funding following Hurricane Helene, according to Stateline.
Sanders requested Major Disaster Relief for Arkansas on April 2. The state received a denial from the federal government regarding Individual Assistance funding through FEMA on April 11, according to the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management. Sanders sent a letter appealing the denial on April 18.
“Arkansas communities are still recovering from this spring’s tornadoes, as the sheer magnitude of this event resulted in overwhelming amounts of debris, widespread destruction to homes and businesses, the tragic loss of three lives, and injuries to many others,” Sanders said in a statement last month. “To relieve the burden on these counties, cities, and towns, I am appealing FEMA’s decision to deny Arkansas’ Major Disaster Declaration request.”
Individuals and business owners in the designated counties who sustained losses can apply for assistance by registering online, using the FEMA App or calling 1-800-621-3362.
