Storms

April 11, 2008 -- (JACKSON, Mississippi) — Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour today requested President George W. Bush and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to declare Hinds County as a major disaster area after the county sustained large amounts of damage from the severe weather and tornado outbreak April 4.

Tornado damage: Photo by Andrew Freese (CC)    » read more »

April 11, 2008 -- (Oklahoma City) -- In the wake of severe storms across the state, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today declared a state of emergency to exist in 38 Oklahoma counties due to tornadoes, severe storms and flooding which began on April 9.

Gov. Henry also amended a March 27, 2008 executive order by adding two counties, Hughes and Pawnee, to the list of those counties experiencing severe storms and flooding since March 17.

Flooding in Oklahoma: Photo by April Harris (CC)    » read more »

Apr 13, 2008 -- LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe today declared Chicot, Hempstead, Little River, Nevada, Poinsett, and Sebastian Counties state disaster areas due to damage caused by the latest round of severe storms and heavy rains.

These six counties will be added to the previous disaster declarations of recent weeks, bringing the total number of declared counties to 58 since March 19.

Flooding on the Arkansas River: Photo by dewonn43 (CC)    » read more »

8:30 a.m. - Situation Update 2

04-10-2008 -- A powerful storm system is beginning to exit the state. In the wake of yesterday's storms there will be strong winds across the state today with an isolated chance of showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures will be much cooler into the weekend with a chance of freezing temperatures across the northern half of the state Saturday morning.

Oklahoma tornado drill postponed due to severe weather: Photo by woodley wonderworks (CC)

Injuries and Fatalities

Injuries were reported in Muldrow following the storm that moved through the area Wednesday night.    » read more »

Apr 10, 2008 -- LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe today declared Clark, Cleburne, Jefferson, Lee, Mississippi and Phillips Counties state disaster areas due to damage caused by severe storms and heavy rains on April 3 and 4.

These six counties will be added to the previous disaster declarations of recent weeks, bringing the total number of declared counties since to 52.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) teams are wrapping up their damage assessments from last week's storms and determining federal aid for affected counties and individual victims.    » read more »

Federal Disaster Funds Requested in Wake of Severe Flooding

April 9, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today asked President Bush to declare fifteen southern Illinois counties federal disaster areas after severe flooding hit the area late last month.

Road closed after winter flooding, Illinois: Photo by tlindenbaum (CC)    » read more »

April 9, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY -- Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today announced President Bush has approved his request for Disaster Declarations for Public Assistance for 47 Missouri Counties as a result of the March flooding.

“The damage assessment teams identified over $28.5 million in damaged public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and critical facilities,” Gov. Blunt said.

A Coast Guard member assisting with Missouri flood relief: Photo by Coast Guard News (CC)    » read more »

April 8, 2008 -- Jackson, MS - Missouri Attorney General Jim Hood warns residents that the damage caused by the recent storms is likely to result in an increase in home repair fraud in central Mississippi.

“We have investigators riding around in storm damaged neighborhoods handing out example home repair contracts and making photographs of license plates and company information off home repair vehicles in the area,” said Attorney General Jim Hood. “We observed five out-of- state tree pruning vehicles at one hotel last night.”

Missouri ice storm damage: Photo by Carol Von Canon (CC)    » read more »

April 7, 2008 -- JACKSON, Mississippi - Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour today declared a State of Emergency for 12 Mississippi counties following a severe weather system and tornadoes which hit parts of Central Mississippi, including the Jackson Metro area. The Governor announced the State of Emergency while touring neighborhoods in Northeast Jackson, which were among the hardest-hit areas from Friday’s storm and tornadoes.

Tornado formation in Mississippi: Photo by Fujoshi (CC)    » read more »

Apr 7, 2008 -- LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe today declared Lonoke and Pike Counties state disaster areas due to damage caused by severe storms and heavy rains on April 3 and 4.

These two counties will be added to the previous disaster declarations of recent weeks, bringing the total number of declared counties to 46.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) teams are still assessing damage from recent Arkansas storms and flooding to determine if the latest storms qualify for federal assistance for individual victims.    » read more »

Apr 7, 2008 -- LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe today declared Arkansas, Garland, Pulaski, St. Francis and Saline Counties state disaster areas due to damage caused by severe storms and heavy rains on April 3 and 4.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has informed Arkansas that requests for federal assistance related to the latest storms can be grouped with requests already made regarding recent flooding.

Tornado damage in Little Rock, Arkansas: Photo by David Quinn (CC)    » read more »

April 04, 2008 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide financial relief to Kenosha, Lafayette, Racine, and Waukesha Counties to help supplement emergency response efforts to the February 5-6 winter storm that produced record snowfalls.

Snowplows at work near Beloit, Wisconsin: Photo by OldOnliner (CC)    » read more »

April 4, 2008 -- (JACKSON, Mississippi) - Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour today declared a State of Emergency for 33 Mississippi counties in anticipation of flooding of the Mississippi River, Yazoo River, and tributaries caused by rising waters due to rainfall in the upper Mississippi River Basin and Ohio River Basin.

Flooding on the Mississippi River: Photo by wcm1111 (CC)    » read more »

Apr 3, 2008 -- LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, after consulting with Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) Director David Maxwell and Arkansas State Health Officer Dr. Paul Halverson, has decided that Arkansas will accept FEMA mobile homes for use by Arkansas storm victims as temporary housing.

FEMA trailers in Louisiana: Photo by Joshua Miller (CC)

Arkansas is accepting only those mobile homes that have been tested by FEMA and registered formaldehyde levels at or below 40 parts per billion (ppb).    » read more »

April 2, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY -- Missouri Governor Matt Blunt tonight urged Missourians who were impacted by flooding last week to be prepared as more flooding is expected.

“The National Weather Service indicates several more inches of rain will fall across the state impacting areas impacted by the recent flooding,” Gov. Blunt said.

Coast Guard members assisting with Missouri flood relief: Photo by Coast Guard News (CC)    » read more »