Clothes in a now-exposed closet hang inside what is left of a wrecked Walnut Valley home. A tornado plowed through west Little Rock Friday afternoon, March 31, 2023, damaging hundreds of homes and businesses. (John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate 04/03/2023)
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday asked the federal government to cover 100% of cleanup costs incurred during the first month of tornado recovery efforts in Arkansas.
Federal aid now covers 75% of costs, but additional funding is required to help Arkansans in need, Sanders said in a statement.
“I’ve been across our state since Friday, surveying damage, meeting with survivors and discussing recovery efforts with local leaders, emergency personnel and volunteers,” she said. “It’s clear that the cost to clean up the damage those storms created will be substantial.”
Severe storms and tornadoes on March 31 caused widespread damage across Arkansas and resulted in at least five deaths. Debris cleanup and emergency protective measures are ongoing in Pulaski, Lonoke and Cross counties.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency opened two more assistance centers on Tuesday — one at 1300 Pike Ave. in North Little Rock and a second at 702 U.S. Hwy. 64 in Wynne.
A previously established assistance center remains in operation at 315 N. Shackleford Road in Little Rock.
Sanders signed two executive orders on Monday to provide additional assistance to tornado victims. One will provide paid leave for state employees, and the other extends the state tax deadline to July 31.
The Internal Revenue Service also extended the deadline for storm victims to file their federal income tax returns to July 31. The deadline remains April 18 for all others.
President Joe Biden on Sunday declared a major disaster exists in Arkansas because of Friday’s tornadoes. The declaration makes federal funding available to individuals, businesses and government agencies for recovery and disaster mitigation.
On Wednesday, the Biden administration also issued a major disaster declaration for Arkansas for areas affected by severe winter weather from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2.
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 facilities damaged by the severe winter storm in Bradley, Calhoun, Cleveland, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln, Nevada, Ouachita, Searcy and Stone counties, according to a White House press release.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, according to the press release.
Details about resources for tornado victims, as well as donation and volunteer opportunities are available at www.helparkansas.com.
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