Sanders orders paid leave for state employees, extends tax deadline for Arkansans affected by tornadoes

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced plans to sign two executive orders Monday to assist tornado victims. 

One will provide paid leave for affected state employees while the second will extend the state income tax filing deadline to July 31 for those directly affected by Friday’s storms.

“As many places as we can find to relieve those pressure points, that’s what we’re going to do over the course of the next several days,” Sanders said.

The Republican governor and U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., provided updates on recovery efforts during a press conference at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock Monday afternoon.

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.

The extension to July 31 also allows eligible taxpayers to make 2022 contributions to their IRAs and health savings accounts, the IRS said in a press release. More details can be found on the IRS disaster relief page.

President Joe Biden on Sunday declared a major disaster exists in Pulaski, Lonoke and Cross counties. The declaration makes federal funding available to individuals, businesses and government agencies for recovery and disaster mitigation.

FEMA has opened a location at Immanuel Baptist Church’s City Center,  315 N. Shackleford Road in Little Rock, and Sanders said the goal is to have “a one-stop shop” where tornado victims can process city, state and federal assistance. FEMA operations are expected to open in North Little Rock and Wynne in the coming days, she said.

Barbara Williams points out the damage to her home and said glass from the window behind her somehow missed her when the tornado struck on Friday, March 31, 2023. She was pulling belongings from her home on Cobble Hill Road Monday afternoon, April 3. (John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate)

Workers cut and peel back metal roofing on the Breckenridge Village Shopping Center Monday afternoon, April 3, 2023. A tornado plowed through west Little Rock Friday afternoon, March 31, 2023, damaging hundreds of homes and businesses. (John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate)

Workers dig for gas lines along Shackleford Road in the devastated Walnut Valley neighborhood Monday afternoon, April 3, 2023. A tornado plowed through west Little Rock Friday afternoon, March 31, damaging hundreds of homes and businesses. (John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate)

While a Little Rock Public Works Department employee directs traffic, (foreground) work to board up broken windows (background) continues in the Walnut Valley neighborhood in Little Rock. 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)

“There’ll be a lot more than immediate needs, and we’re not going to go anywhere for weeks, for months, for years, for as long as it takes to help you put back everything,” Cotton said.

State officials this morning launched the website www.helparkansas.com where Arkansans can find information about shelter, food and clothing assistance, as well details about donation and volunteer opportunities.

Arkansas is expected to have additional severe weather Tuesday. Sanders urged Arkansans to pay attention to weather alerts and have a plan in place for staying safe.

Advocate Editor-in-Chief Sonny Albarado contributed to this report.