From the Arkansas Advocate:
President Donald Trump has declared a major disaster in Arkansas related to storms that caused widespread flooding and damage from April 2-22, according to a Federal Emergency Management Agency press release.
The disaster declaration covers a total of 39 counties, just over half of the state’s 75, through different disaster relief programs, according to the release. Sanders requested the declaration in a May 3 letter to Trump.
This will be the second major disaster declaration for the state this spring. Trump last week approved a major disaster declaration for nine counties affected by March 14-15 storms and tornadoes. He had initially denied the request but relented after a personal phone call from Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, according to a May 13 statement from the governor’s office. Sanders served as Trump’s press secretary during part of his first term.
“As we recover from a long series of severe weather events, our state is incredibly thankful for President Trump’s leadership and work to deliver aid to storm-impacted communities,” Sanders said in a press release Friday.
Friday’s disaster declaration makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Clark, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Desha, Fulton, Hot Spring, Jackson, Miller, Ouachita, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Sharp, St. Francis and White counties, the FEMA press release said. 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 recover from the effects of the disaster.
“Federal funding is also available to state, tribal, eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in Clark, Clay, Craighead, Cross, Dallas, Desha, Fulton, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Izard, Jackson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lee, Little River, Lonoke, Marion, Miller, Monroe, Montgomery, Nevada, Newton, Pike, Poinsett, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Scott, Searcy, Sevier, Sharp, St. Francis, Stone and Woodruff counties,” FEMA said.
The federal disaster declaration comes after Sanders announced Thursday that the state will cover up to 35% of the cleanup and rebuilding costs county and local governments incurred from the March tornadoes and storms.
Local and county governments will have to submit expense documentation to the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management, according to a press release. ADEM staff will review the reimbursement requests and inspect the projects before funds are disbursed, the release said.
Roland W. Jackson has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas.
Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas should first file claims with their insurance providers and then apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA App, the release said.
