FEDERAL-STATE DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS BEGIN FOR HOMEOWNERS, RENTERS
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark.
Beginning on Monday, the Arkansas Department of
Emergency Management (ADEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) will be assessing damages sustained by homeowners and renters from
the recent Arkansas winter storms. Gov. Mike Beebe asked for the survey to
aid in determining whether the state should request additional federal
disaster aid.
The assessments will take place in Benton, Carroll, Clay, Fulton, Izard,
Jackson, Lawrence, Newton, Poinsett, Randolph, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, Van
Buren, and Washington counties as requested by the governor over the
weekend.
“There are several steps in responding to and recovering from a storm as
serious as the one that hit us this last week of January,” said Arkansas
State Coordinating Officer Rich Griffin. “This next round of assessments
will give us a better picture of whether we can reasonably expect a larger
federal role.”
To assist the damage assessment teams, Griffin encourages Arkansans with any
uninsured damage from the ice storm to their homes or personal property to
contact the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management at 1-888-683-2336.
Based on the results of the assessments, the governor may ask FEMA for help
from its Individual Assistance program. Individual Assistance offers grants
to qualified homeowners and renters to help cover costs of eligible damages
that were not covered by insurance or other programs.
“FEMA’s role is to bring authorized assistance to Arkansas,” said Mike
Moore, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer for this disaster. “Should Gov.
Beebe request aid from the Individual Assistance program, FEMA will be able
to objectively evaluate the request and make a recommendation to the
president.”
Last Friday, the president authorized FEMA’s Public Assistance program for
23 counties (Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Craighead, Franklin,
Fulton, Greene, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Madison,
Marion, Mississippi, Newton, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, Van Buren, and
Washington). Public Assistance makes reimbursement for storm-related costs
available to state, county and local governments and some private,
non-profit entities-but does not make grants to individuals.
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FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency
management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and
mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation
from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other
man-made disasters.
