Beebe Asks Feds For Disaster Assistance

Gov. Mike Beebe has sent a letter to President Obama requesting a major disaster declaration for 57 Arkansas counties impacted by severe storms, tornadoes and floods beginning April 14.

Those counties include Arkansas, Baxter, Benton, Bradley, Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Chicot, Clark, Clay, Cleburne, Cleveland, Conway, Craighead, Crawford, Crittenden, Cross, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Franklin, Fulton, Garland, Grant, Hot Spring, Howard, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Lonoke, Madison, Marion, Mississippi, Monroe, Montgomery, Newton, Perry, Phillips, Pike, Polk, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Searcy, Sharp, St. Francis, Stone, Van Buren, Washington, White, Woodruff, and Yell.

Beebe’s request asks for federal assistance for individuals and households directly impacted by the storms. Along with direct federal aid, storm victims would be eligible for temporary housing, disaster unemployment assistance, crisis counseling, and Small Business Administration disaster loans.