Governor Sanders Urges Federal Disaster Declaration for Arkansas Amid Ongoing Storm Devastation
(Little Rock, AR) – Governor Sarah Sanders has once again appealed to President Donald Trump for a major disaster declaration following severe storms and floods that battered Arkansas last month. This latest request, submitted on May 3, comes after a previous denial from Trump regarding a March 21 request, which followed deadly tornadoes and storms that resulted in three fatalities and numerous injuries in northern Arkansas.
The recent storms, occurring between April 2 and April 22, produced multiple tornadoes, including a significant EF3 tornado near Lake City. The state recorded over a foot of rain in several regions, leading to significant flooding, particularly in Northeast Arkansas, and leaving over 100,000 households without power; approximately 25,000 are still without electricity as cited by Sanders.
In her letter to Trump, Sanders highlighted the compounding nature of disasters that have plagued Arkansas over the last few years, complicating recovery efforts. Since the start of 2023, the state has faced an unprecedented series of disasters, with four federally declared and ten state-declared emergencies, severely straining local and state resources and leading to widespread "disaster fatigue" among residents.
Sanders is requesting individual assistance for affected residents, public support for infrastructure repairs, hazard mitigation funds, and small business loans, stressing the urgent need for federal aid to aid recovery and resilience. This request, notably in stark contrast to her earlier assertions regarding state self-sufficiency, is backed by Arkansas’s Republican congressional delegation, who have also urged Trump to reconsider his stance on aid for the state. The previous denial of assistance has gained national attention, emphasizing the pressing need for support in one of the nation’s consistently supportive Republican strongholds.
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