37 Arkansas Counties Declared Federal Disaster Areas
Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe has announced that President Obama granted his request for a federal major disaster declaration to help Arkansas counties recovering from flooding rains and storms in May.
The federal declaration covers all 37 counties requested by Gov. Beebe two weeks ago: Arkansas, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Clark, Cleveland, Conway, Dallas, Drew, Fulton, Grant, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Lincoln, Little River, Marion, Miller, Monroe, Nevada, Ouachita, Perry, Phillips, Pike, Poinsett, Polk, Prairie, St. Francis, Saline, Searcy, Stone, and Union Counties.
The declaration brings with it federal assistance to cover 75 percent of the damages to public infrastructure in the affected counties, including utility systems, roads and bridges and debris removal.
Arkansas counties are also eligible for assistance under the federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to better prepare for future natural disasters.
Source: Arkansas Governor’s Office