Beebe, Obama, Other Pols Offer Help To Tornado-stricken Communities

Gov. Mike Beebe, President Obama and other elected officials offered support and assistance to the communities hit Sunday night by a deadly tornado.

The death toll on Monday stood at 15 after the storm leveled homes and community buildings across an 80-mile swath. The towns of Mayflower and Vilonia were hardest hit.

Beebe declared three counties – Pulaski, Faulkner and White – a state disaster area and he asked federal officials to make a “major disaster declaration” for Faulkner County.

The verbal request is an unusual step and will require damage assessments by federal officials in the coming days. The declarations will allow for individual and public assistance on a variety of fronts.

President Obama weighed in from the Phillipines, where he is on an overseas trade mission. In public comments and a conversation with Gov. Beebe, the president said federal emergency management and homeland security officials would be made available to expedite help to the region. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator Craig Fugate visited both Mayflower and Vilonia Monday afternoon.

“I want everyone affected by this tragedy to know that FEMA and the federal government is on the ground and will help our fellow Americans in need, working with state and local officials,” Obama said during a press conference from Manila.

Sens. Mark Pryor and John Boozman offered thoughts and prayers.

“My heart’s heavy today as we continue to uncover the destruction of last night’s storms. I am sending my thoughts and prayers to all the families in Arkansas who have been devastated by this disaster,” said Pryor, who toured the storm-ravaged areas with Gov. Beebe on Monday.

Pryor encouraged Arkansans to donate online to the Red Cross organization.

“Amid all this loss, of lives, homes and property, we’ve seen Arkansans come together to help our friends and neighbors in need,” he added.

Boozman, who is recovering from heart surgery in Rogers, said his office stood ready to help anyone in need.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost loved ones in this devastation. While Arkansans are all too familiar with the destruction that Mother Nature can leave behind, it never gets easier. Arkansans have always come together in the most difficult times to help neighbors in need. It’s clear that commitment continues today,” Boozman said.

Second District Cong. Tim Griffin, who represents the communities where the deaths occurred, was on the ground Sunday night and on Monday.

“Last night, I walked around what was only hours earlier thriving neighborhoods in Vilonia and Mayflower that are now gone. The destruction I witnessed is heartbreaking,” Griffin said in a press statement. “In Vilonia an entire neighborhood was destroyed. Many homes are completely gone except the foundation, and there is more devastation like that in Mayflower. I stand ready to help, and I will do everything I can to make sure federal resources are made available immediately.”

All four members of the state’s Congressional delegation issued a joint statement on the disaster.

“Sorrow and grief for the devastation and tragic loss of life caused by last night’s storm is shared by Arkansans all over the state. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected and hurt by this horrific storm, and we thank the first responders who continue to help those in need. We will keep working to help our state and communities rebuild and ensure that federal resources are directed to the Arkansans who need them now,” Congressmen Rick Crawford, Steve Womack, Tom Cotton and Griffin said.

There was even bipartisanship on display from the state’s two major political parties.

Republican Party of Arkansas chairman Doyle Webb said the state GOP field offices would be used to collect donations for the Red Cross and Salvation Army.

“There is currently a high demand for cases of water, boxed snacks, hand sanitizer, and other personal care items,” Webb said.

Donations can be made around the state at GOP field offices in Little Rock, Fort Smith, Springdale and Jonesboro.

The Democratic Party of Arkansas issued a challenge to its members. DPA chair Vince Insalaco said all donations made to the party within the next 24 hours would be donated to tornado victim relief funds and would be doubled dollar-for-dollar by a matching party contribution.