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Gov. Sarah Sanders said Arkansas is in “dire need of federal assistance” in an appeal letter last week after the federal government denied help after last month’s damaging storms.
Fourteen tornadoes touched down in Arkansas on March 14 and 15, leaving three dead and dozens injured.
The next week, Sanders asked President Donald Trump for a major disaster declaration, the first step in securing federal funds and other help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Sanders specifically requested help in the form of small business loans and individual assistance for people in Greene, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph, Sharp and Stone counties.
But the Trump administration declined to declare a disaster, meaning no federal assistance would be heading our way.
In their rejection note to Sanders’ March 21 request, the federal government said the damage wasn’t anything state and local folks couldn’t handle.
Here’s what the federal government said in its denial, according to Lacey Kanipe, spokeswoman for the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management:
“Based on our review of all of the information available, it has been determined that the damage from this event was not of such severity and magnitude as to be beyond the capabilities of the state, affected local governments, and voluntary agencies. Accordingly, we have determined that supplemental federal assistance is not necessary.”
Gov. Sarah Sanders said Arkansas is in “dire need of federal assistance” in an appeal letter last week after the federal government denied help after last month’s damaging storms.
Fourteen tornadoes touched down in Arkansas on March 14 and 15, leaving three dead and dozens injured.
The next week, Sanders asked President Donald Trump for a major disaster declaration, the first step in securing federal funds and other help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Sanders specifically requested help in the form of small business loans and individual assistance for people in Greene, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph, Sharp and Stone counties.
But the Trump administration declined to declare a disaster, meaning no federal assistance would be heading our way.
In their rejection note to Sanders’ March 21 request, the federal government said the damage wasn’t anything state and local folks couldn’t handle.
Here’s what the federal government said in its denial, according to Lacey Kanipe, spokeswoman for the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management:
“Based on our review of all of the information available, it has been determined that the damage from this event was not of such severity and magnitude as to be beyond the capabilities of the state, affected local governments, and voluntary agencies. Accordingly, we have determined that supplemental federal assistance is not necessary.”
