Desha County Added to Presidential Declaration for Public Assistance 

Release Date: May 8, 2008
Release Number: 1751-063

» More Information on Arkansas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announce that Desha County is now eligible for Public Assistance (PA) as a result of the severe storms, flooding and tornadoes that occurred from March 18 through April 28.

Desha joins the previously declared counties of Arkansas, Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Clark, Cleburne, Conway, Craighead, Crawford, Cross, Franklin, Fulton, Garland, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Lee, Little River, Logan, Lonoke, Madison, Marion, Miller, Mississippi, Monroe, Nevada, Newton, Perry, Phillips, Pike, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, St. Francis, Saline, Scott, Searcy, Sebastian, Sharp, Stone, Van Buren, Washington, White, Woodruff, and Yell. These 55 counties are all eligible for categories A-G, with Faulkner County eligible for category B only.

Examples of category A-G include expenses associated with debris removal, emergency protective measures, road systems and bridges, water control facilities, buildings including contents and equipment, utilities and parks, and recreational areas.

The PA program reimburses local and state agencies and certain nonprofit agencies for the expenses and damages that occurred during the response and recovery phase of the disaster.

FEMA officials said the assistance was approved based on a review of damage data gathered by federal, state and local disaster recovery officials.

Desha was previously declared for individual assistance under this same presidential declaration of March 26.

All counties in the State of Arkansas are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). 

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Friday, 09-May-2008 08:24:03