FEMA Announces Website For Arkansas Disasters 

Release Date: August 12, 2009
Release Number: 1845-009

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today the implementation of a new website that provides the general public, the media, county, state and federal officials with information about the three federally declared disasters that occurred in Arkansas earlier this year.

In an effort to support the FEMA philosophy of open information, the Arkansas State/Federal Joint Field Office developed a disaster-specific website, www.fema.gov/arkansas09.  This site was designed to inform and support state and local partners plus provide a variety of recovery information to the public and the media.

With three separate disasters managed from one field office in Little Rock, Gerard Stolar, FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer and Richard Griffin, State Coordinating Officer chose this innovative option to keep the public informed. The website includes separate "buttons" and links for each disaster.  It has specific statistics, press releases, and the most recent information on federal obligated dollars at the state, county and congressional district levels.

With just a few clicks, one can find data on the $184 million dollars obligated to help government and non-profit organizations recover and rebuild after the January ice storm, or the $1.8 million paid to help individuals recover from tornados that occurred in April. A county official who needs to know the dollar amount of obligated dollars for debris removal from the spring flooding in May, can get the latest information immediately.

In addition to the statistical data for the three disasters, the website also has links to other FEMA services, disaster fact sheets and publications, county government links and phone numbers, plus congressional district information. The site is updated weekly, as additional federal dollars are obligated.

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 terrorism.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 12-Aug-2009 10:33:24