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3mo ago

Arkansas Launches Cost-Sharing Plan for March Storm Recovery as FEMA Approves April Aid

Gov. Sanders announces a state-local funding model for March tornado cleanup while federal disaster aid supports April storm recovery in 16 counties.

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FILE - Family friend Trey Bridges, 16, climbs a mountain of tornado debris to help the Blansett family recover items not destroyed by Saturday's tornado, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Tylertown, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Kymberlie and Robert Watson stand outside a damaged work shed on their property in Cave City, Ark. The March tornado that ripped through the city incurred $60,000 in damages to their home.
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Overview

  • FEMA approved a major disaster declaration for April storms in Arkansas, providing both individual and public assistance in 16 counties.
  • Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced a 35% state and 65% local cost-sharing plan to fund recovery from March tornado damage after FEMA denied public assistance for those storms.
  • The March 14–15 tornadoes, including EF3 and EF4 storms, caused three deaths, 32 injuries, and extensive infrastructure damage in northern Arkansas.
  • FEMA's denial of public assistance for March storms has shifted significant financial responsibility to local governments, raising concerns about the burden on smaller communities.
  • The Trump administration's FEMA reforms aim to shift more disaster recovery responsibility to states, sparking debates over equitable aid distribution and federal disaster policy.