Arkansas Disaster Aid Tops $13.2 Million

Federal disaster aid approved for Arkansans affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred March 18 through April 28 has reached more than $13.2 million, state and federal disaster-recovery officials said today.

Following is a summary of state and federal disaster recovery information through close of business May 15.

• More than 11,600 individuals and households have applied for disaster assistance.
• $8 million in Housing Assistance has been approved for rental or temporary lodging and housing repair.
• $1.1 million in Other Needs Assistance has been approved for personal property loss, medical costs and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance.
• 6,359 home inspections have been completed.
• 3,292 visits to Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) have been made by disaster-affected residents seeking recovery information.
• Public Assistance grants totaling more than $118,293 have been obligated to date in response to Requests for Public Assistance (RPAs) from public entities (counties, cities, and private, non-profit organizations that provide essential public services).
• The SBA has approved almost $4 million in low-interest disaster loans to Arkansas residents and businesses. The SBA provides low-interest loans to homeowners, renters, non-profit organizations and businesses of all sizes that suffered damage from the March and April severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.

Individuals who have become unemployed as a direct result of the March and April severe storms, flooding and tornadoes may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). So far, 44 applications for DUA have been received with funding of $10,130. Deadlines for DUA in Arkansas counties are the following:

• Residents of Conway, Garland, Hot Spring, Newton and Washington counties must file by May 22.
• Residents of Cleburne, Crawford, Jefferson, Lee, Miller, Phillips, St. Francis, Searcy, Sebastian, White and Yell counties must file by May 27.
• Residents in Arkansas, Desha, Hempstead, Poinsett and Van Buren counties must file by June 4.

Community relations representatives are in disaster-declared areas knocking on doors and providing registration information. So far, representatives have talked with more than 2,700 affected residents.

Arkansans who live in Arkansas, Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Cleburne, Conway, Craighead, Crawford, Cross, Desha, Franklin, Fulton, Garland, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee, Logan, Lonoke, Madison, Marion, Miller, Monroe, Newton, Phillips, Poinsett, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, St. Francis, Saline, Scott, Searcy, Sebastian, Sharp, Stone, Van Buren, Washington, White, Woodruff and Yell counties and suffered damage, should call the FEMA registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585, and register for assistance as soon as possible. The FEMA registration and helpline hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Applicants also can register online at any time at www.fema.gov.

The deadline to register for assistance is June 27.