Beebe Releases Flood Aid

LITTLE ROCK — Gov. Mike Beebe announced Wednesday he has authorized the release of $2 million from the Governor’s Disaster Fund to provide limited individual assistance for flood and storm victims in 12 Arkansas counties, including four area counties.

Arkansans with uninsured damage to their primary residences may be eligible for state aid in Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Scott, Columbia, Grant, Lincoln, Lonoke, Ouachita, Pulaski, Union and White counties.

“While we will request a presidential disaster declaration for flooding damage to infrastructure in Arkansas, we don’t believe we will meet the federal requirements for individual assistance,” Beebe said in a release issued by his office. “The state can provide limited funds to help uninsured homeowners in the counties hardest hit start toward recovery.”

Eligibility for state assistance will be based on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster damage guidelines.

Beginning Thursday morning, victims whose residences have been rendered temporarily or permanently uninhabitable due to the flooding and severe storms on Oct. 29 and 30 can contact the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management at (888) 683-2336. Applications for uninsured damage grants and temporary housing assistance will be accepted for two weeks.

A total of 51 Arkansas counties have been granted state disaster status due to severe weather in October.