The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Arkansas to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding beginning on April 26, 2017 through May 19, 2017.
The president’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Faulkner, Fulton, Jackson, Lawrence, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Washington, and Yell counties. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured or underinsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damage facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding in Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Cleburne, Conway, Craighead, Cross, Faulkner, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Mississippi, Montgomery, Newton, Ouachita, Perry, Poinsett, Prairie, Randolph, Saline, Washington, White, and Woodruff counties.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
Jerry S. Thomas is the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Thomas said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of damage assessments.
HOW TO APPLY FOR AID:
Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.