Statement by the Press Secretary on Federal Disaster Assistance for Arkansas

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Arkansas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on March 18, 2008, and continuing.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis in the counties of Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Conway, Craighead, Crawford, Faulkner, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hot Spring, Howard, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Logan, Madison, Marion, Nevada, Newton, Pope, Randolph, Scott, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, Van Buren, Washington, White, Woodruff, and Yell for emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance.

R. David Paulison, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Kenneth M. Riley as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

FEMA said that damage surveys have been scheduled and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are completed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.