Governor Beebe Requests Federal Disaster Declaration For 37 Arkansas Counties

Jun 2, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe has sent a letter to President Obama requesting a major disaster declaration for 37 Arkansas counties impacted by storms and flooding throughout the month of May. The letter includes requests for Arkansas, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Clark, Cleveland, Conway, Dallas, Drew, Fulton, Grant, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Lincoln, Little River, Marion, Miller, Monroe, Nevada, Ouachita, Perry, Phillips, Pike, Poinsett, Polk, Prairie, Saint Francis, Saline, Searcy, Stone, and Union Counties.

The request is for full public-assistance disaster services from the federal government, including direct funding for affected counties, hazard mitigation funds and Small Business Administration disaster loans for eligible businesses.

Damage-assessment teams estimate more than $6,000,000 in infrastructure damages from the storms and floods that began on April 27. The vast majority of that damage was to roads and bridges throughout the state.

Source: Arkansas Governor