Weather
Some states act to protect residents from extreme heat — with a new focus on young people
After two years of record-breaking heat that brought a surge of deaths and health emergencies, several states have enacted or are considering measures designed to protect residents — with a new focus on younger people whose vulnerability is rising with the temperatures. Nationally, heat-related deaths rose from about 1,000 in 2018 to 1,722 in 2022 […]
SBA opens disaster loan outreach centers in Arkansas
The U.S. Small Business Administration opened three outreach centers on Monday to assist Arkansans affected by severe weather June 25-26. SBA customer service representatives are available at Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) locations in Conway, Lonoke and Marked Tree, and a virtual DLOC, to help Arkansans apply for federal disaster loans. Arkansas Division of Emergency […]
Sanders adds $1 million in state money for June 25 disaster relief
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has authorized $1 million in state funds to provide additional disaster relief in Arkansas, Faulkner, Lonoke, Mississippi, Poinsett, Pope and Pulaski counties stemming from instances of severe weather on June 25. Sanders announced the availability of the money in a Nov. 17 amendment to her earlier disaster declaration. The funds come […]
Disaster assistance available for Arkansans impacted by June 25 storms
Arkansans impacted by severe storms and straight-line winds on June 25 can begin applying for assistance on Monday. Homeowners and renters in Arkansas, Faulkner, Lonoke, Mississippi, Poinsett, Pope and Pulaski counties may be eligible for disaster assistance through the Arkansas Individual Assistance program. Individuals whose primary residence was destroyed or made uninhabitable may apply for […]
Drought on Mississippi River expected to persist through winter
The Mississippi River hovered just a few inches below the low-water mark in Memphis Wednesday afternoon — a notable improvement after months of record drought, but still unusually low for this time of year. Lack of rain brought drought to much of the Mississippi River basin early this summer, and it’s likely going to linger […]
Saltwater intrusion creates drinking water emergency for southeast Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS — The historic drought currently baking Louisiana has created an emergency for areas in the southeastern part of the state that depend on the Mississippi River for their drinking water. The flow of saltwater upriver from the Gulf of Mexico is expected to reach New Orleans in exactly a month and has already […]
$10 million grant to support Arkansas electric grid upgrades
Arkansas will receive more than $10 million in federal funding to enhance the state’s electric grid, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration announced Wednesday. Funding from the Grid Enhancement Grant program will total $5.16 million in the first year and $5.14 million the second year. “This year’s historic natural disasters underscored the critical importance […]
Arkansas governor requests major disaster declaration for June 25 storms
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders today requested a presidential Major Disaster Declaration in response to storms that caused severe damage in Central Arkansas and the Delta on June 25. In late June, severe storms and straight-line winds caused extensive damage to private property and public facilities across Arkansas. A joint state and FEMA preliminary damage assessment […]
Arkansas governor orders updated plan to guide water policy, investment
This story was updated on Aug. 22, 2023. Arkansas environmental officials will spend the next year updating the state’s plan meant to direct policy on a range of water policy issues, from flood management to drinking water quality and farm irrigation. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ Monday executive order calls for the fourth iteration of the […]
FEMA’s disaster relief fund is running low on cash. What happens now?
WASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund is in desperate need of cash, with the agency projecting at least a $4 billion deficit in the weeks ahead — even as the government responds to devastating fires in Hawaii and hurricane season continues. FEMA, however, won’t simply stop the response and recovery activities […]
Southeast Arkansas county will receive state relief funds after severe storm damage in June
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a Southeast Arkansas county a disaster area on Tuesday and promised relief funds to the area in light of severe storms in June. Arkansas has seen a wide range of severe storm damage this year, including in Ashley County on June 18, when 30 to 40 mph winds downed power […]
Community foundations in central Arkansas and Wynne offer grants to help tornado recovery
Support groups that are helping with long-term tornado recovery efforts in Cross, Lonoke and Pulaski counties may be eligible for grants of up to $25,000 through the Arkansas Community Foundation, the nonprofit announced Tuesday. “Help is still needed for many in central Arkansas and Wynne, especially the uninsured and those who couldn’t access federal or […]