Biden approves major disaster declaration for Arkansas in wake of tornado wave

This Sunday U.S. President Joe Biden declared a major disaster in the state of Arkansas and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts following the March 31, 2023, storm surge and tornadoes that have so far left more than 30 people dead and several injured.

The White House issued a statement reporting that the president's actions would make federal funds available for those affected in Cross, Lonoke and Pulaski counties. This assistance could include grants for home repairs and temporary housing expenses, low-interest loans to cover losses on uninsured property, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from disaster damage.

"Federal funding also is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work in the counties of Cross, Lonoke, and Pulaski" the White House stated.

Damage assessments are still underway in other affected areas and it is possible that additional counties and other forms of assistance may be allocated once these assessments are fully completed.

Disaster in the state of Arkansas

Last Friday, a massive storm, which generated strong tornadoes, struck several towns ranging from the state of Arkansas to Illinois, where the roof of a crowded concert hall collapsed. The storms destroyed homes and businesses, leaving at least 27 people dead.

These tornadoes also left more than 16,000 people without access to electricity according to the data shown on PowerOutage.us, which monitors the service.

In the capital of Little Rock, at least one person was killed and more than 50 were injured. Masoud Shahed-Ghaznavi recounts that he hid in his laundry room when the storm started and when he came out, he found that his house had been mostly reduced to rubble. "Everything around me is sky," Shahed-Ghaznavi said after checking the damage to his home.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that the National Guard will assist local police in the rescue and cleanup.