|
(Washington, D.C.) U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and
U.S. Representative Mike Ross today announced that federal funds are available
to help communities recover from the severe storms and flooding that occurred
May 30th and continuing. The grants will be administered through the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA.)
The declaration will provide FEMA Public Assistance funds to the following
12 counties:
Bradley, Calhoun, Clark, Columbia, Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Little
River, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, and Sevier.
FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides aid to state and local governments
for repair or replacement of disaster-damaged public facilities. FEMA will
review and approve the projects and obligate the federal share (no less
than 75 percent of the total costs) to the state. The state will then disburse
funds to local applicants.
In addition, all 75 Arkansas counties can apply for assistance under
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides aid to state and
local governments for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk
to life and property from natural hazards. In each case, the federal government
can provide up to 75 percent of the cost for approved projects, with some
restrictions. According to FEMA, additional designations may be made in
the future after further evaluation by FEMA.
Lincoln, Pryor and Ross urge all counties affected to immediately contact
the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management at (501) 730-9750. |
|
