North Little Rock-Numerous Arkansans have joined together to assist the evacuees from Louisiana with their shelter needs. “We currently have 16 shelters open throughout the state with a population of nearly 800 self evacuees (late Sunday afternoon) and more than 1,500 controlled evacuees at Fort Chaffee,” said Tommy Jackson, lead public information officer of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM).

“We are working to coordinate with other state agencies in these evacuation efforts. We have updated our website to allow the evacuees and their families to locate a shelter within close proximity. Individuals can click on the “Arkansas Shelters” link, which will list counties that have shelters open and operational. Then click on that county to get directions to that particular shelter as well as get contact information. We are encouraging everyone to view the website to obtain current updates on shelters and resource needs during this time,” said Jackson.

In a related item, the Arkansas Department of Health activated its Emergency Operations Center or EOC at 8:00 am Saturday, August 30 and will remain activated until officials are confident that all public health concerns have been extinguished.

Currently the Department of Health is in the process of activating a hotline that will connect the public with the Department of Health EOC.

This hotline is intended to help people locate family members who have been brought into Arkansas hospitals for care.  The phone number (1-800-651-3493) is anticipated to activate by 8:00pm cst.

The Department of Health EOC will remain activated throughout the response and will continue to monitor the health needs of the evacuee population and Arkansas residents.

For additional information, contact ADEM at (501) 683-6700 or visit the website at www.adem.arkansas.gov.

To aid citizens of Arkansas, Hurricane Gustav evacuees and their families in receiving current information, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) is coordinating a Joint Information System along with the following state agencies: Governor’s Office, Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Highway and Transportation, National Guard, State Police, Red Cross, and Sebastian County emergency management, law enforcement and county officials.

“Our purpose in establishing this system is to add to our coordinating efforts for all agencies involved with disaster situations to work as one unit.  All the agencies will be coordinating with one another to ensure consistent and accurate messages are delivered in a timely manner. This will allow us to work in a more effective manner in distributing information in regard to our evacuation efforts,” said Tommy Jackson, lead public information officer for ADEM.

For additional information, contact ADEM at (501) 683-6700 or visit the website at www.adem.arkansas.gov.

CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, Ark. -  The Arkansas National Guard was handed it’s 61st state mission this afternoon, it’s third mission in support of Hurricane Gustav preparation.  The Camp Robinson based Institute Support Unit (ISU) received the call to provide 15 personnel and transportation assets for the distribution of commodities as required.

As the team stood up, mission number 62 hit the tracking board at the Arkansas National Guard’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC).  The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management called in the need for the Guard to provide 75 cots and 150 blankets for the team’s delivery to Monticello, Ark., where a local church was setting up temporary shelter for incoming evacuees.

Two similar missions came in shortly after, with EOC staff personally loading and delivering the first due to its close proximity.  The two man team deployed 50 cots and 100 blankets to the 1st Presbyterian Church in downtown Little Rock.   The ISU took ownership of the next with 50 cots and 100 blankets needing delivery to Hope, Ark.  The unit will deploy the Hope and Monticello missions Sunday morning, August 31.
As the Guard is supporting these communities to assist with incoming evacuees, it is welcoming in those seeking shelter from the storm as well. The Guard’s mission to open the doors of Fort Chaffee became operational on Saturday August 30.

At 7:30 p.m. of the first day, the Guard’s EOC reported that 139 people had been in processed at Fort Chaffee, which is near Fort Smith, Ark.  Fifty more were anticipated by the end of the night with another 500 scheduled to arrive by buss on Sunday.  All together Fort Chaffee is making preparations to house up to 4,000 displaced residents evacuated from the Louisiana area.  The Fort Chaffee mission is currently manned by 130 State Active Duty support personnel according to the EOC, but that number is expected to grow to a total of 165.

Overall, the Arkansas Guard currently has over 200 personnel working State Active Duty missions in support of in pending storm.  Over 10,000 Soldiers and Airmen strong, the Arkansas Guard strives to maintain a minimum of 50 percent of that force in the state at all times.  Today, with over 3,000 Arkansas troops deployed overseas, approximately 6,000 remain available for response in support of civil authorities as needed for a variety of missions here in the state or as needed elsewhere.

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – The state of Arkansas has already begun to accept evacuees from Louisiana.  As of now Fort Chaffee has roughly 200 evacuees already on site with three planes still in route to the military base.  There are 2,000 evacuees on their way to Fort Chaffee via bus.

“We have been planning for this situation since Hurricane Katrina.  We have a pre-arranged agreement to accept 4,000 controlled evacuees at Fort Chaffee but we are also coordinating resources from counties across the state where people have chosen to self evacuate.” says Richard Griffin, Arkansas Emergency Operations Center Team Chief.  The Arkansas Emergency Operations Center is housed within the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM).

Shelters have opened up for those who chose to self evacuate.  These shelters may or may not be ADA compliant.  If you are in need of an ADA compliant shelter please contact the shelter in advance to see if they are able to accommodate those needs. Shelter information can be found on the ADEM website: www.adem.arkansas.gov.  Arkansans interested in helping out should contact their local authorities.

Sarah Palin is a pleasant surprise for those of us who had hoped that Senator McCain would pick a principled and authentic conservative pro-life leader.  Sarah Palin is both principled and authentic.  As a Governor, she also brings an important balance of understanding of the critical domestic issues that is needed and that the Democrats have ignored with their ticket.  Governor Palin is smart, authentic, tough, and a dynamic choice that will remind women that  they are not  welcome on the Democrat’s ticket, they have a place with Republicans.
by Mike Huckabee

“We should all be proud of Governor Sarah Palin’s historic nomination, and I congratulate her and Senator McCain. While their policies would take America in the wrong direction, Governor Palin will add an important new voice to the debate.” Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton after receiving news that Senator Obama had chosen Senator Biden as his Vice Presidential nominee:

“In naming my colleague and friend Senator Joe Biden to be the Vice Presidential nominee, Senator Obama has continued in the best traditions for the Vice Presidency by selecting an exceptionally strong, experienced leader and devoted public servant. Senator Biden will be a purposeful and dynamic Vice President who will help Senator Obama both win the Presidency and govern this great country.”

Fort Chaffee is only being used to house Louisiana evacuees from Gustav coming to Arkansas in a controlled situation via planes or bus and is not for self-evacuees. Arkansas Emergency Operations Center Team Chief Richard Griffin made that announcement Saturday morning.

Per an agreement with the State of Louisiana, Arkansas can house 4,000 controlled evacuees at Chaffee.

Griffin said that counties in Arkansas have been asked to help self-evacuees if possible but he added that according to reports he had received, hotel spaces are very limited from Little Rock southward.

The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) is the state’s homeland security and preparedness agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters and threats to Arkansas by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies.  For additional information, contact ADEM at (501) 683-6700 or visit the website at www.adem.arkansas.gov

The Cowboy Catfish Supper last night will be Saturday August 30 from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Clinton Senior Center (located at 570 Yellowjacket Lane (next to Clinton Schools) Proceeds benefit “Meals on Wheels” of Van Buren County Aging Program. Modern Woodmen of America have a Matching grant up to $2,500.00 on all proceeds.