Arkansas Storm/Tornado Recovery Update
Release Date: February 26, 1999
Release Number: 1266-18
» More Information on Arkansas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, High Winds and Flooding
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Federal, state, local and voluntary agencies are working in partnership to help Arkansas residents following recent severe storms and tornadoes. The following is a summary of ongoing response and recovery efforts to date. The State of Arkansas, the Arkansas Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will update this information as needed from their Joint Information Center in Little Rock.
- To help meet the needs of tornado victims unable to find other temporary housing, ten travel trailers and six manufactured houses have been located on private property, and four manufactured houses have been placed on commercial property in Independence, St. Francis and White counties.
- Individuals and business owners in the counties eligible for Individual Assistance Programs have until Tuesday, March 23 to apply for assistance at FEMA's registration number 1-800-462-9029 (TTY 1-800-462-7585 for speech and hearing impaired persons) between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- People who have applied for federal/state disaster assistance and have questions about their application or other kinds of assistance can call the FEMA Helpline (1-800-525-0321 or, for the speech and hearing impaired, TTY 1-800-660-8005).
- Beginning on Thursday, February 25, at 9:00 a.m., the Beebe Disaster Recovery Center became the location of a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Workshop. SBA loan officers at the workshop assist applicants in completing or issuing disaster loan packets free of charge. The SBA also has a workshop in Pulaski County at the State Fairgrounds. Both workshops are open from Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and will be open through Thursday, Mar. 4.
- SBA has approved 252 loans to date totaling $7,767,500. There have been 1,641 applications issued for U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) home loans and 488 applications issued for SBA business loans; 2,129 applications in all. SBA has received 515 completed applications for home loans, 101 for business loans, and 85 for economic injury loans; a total of 701 completed applications.
- At close of business, Feb. 24, a total of 2,856 people with storm damage had registered for federal assistance and a total of 700 grants totaling $777,784 were approved by FEMA's Disaster Housing Program.
- As of Feb. 24, the number of applicants eligible for individual assistance by county are:
- Clay, 67
- Jefferson, 30
- Poinsett, 24
- Faulkner, 35
- Lafayette, 12
- Pulaski, 1,527
- Grant, 7
- Greene, 29
- Lonoke, 36
- Miller, 30
- Saline, 114
- St. Francis, 42
- Independence, 276
- Monroe,14
- White, 613
- A total of 413 checks totaling $1,267,088 have been approved for Individual and Family Grants as a result of recent storms and tornadoes. This program administered by the Arkansas Department of Human Services is designed to meet the needs of individuals with needs that have not been met by insurance, disaster loans or other forms of assistance.
Last Modified: Thursday, 18-Dec-2003 11:58:23