Hutchinson requests federal assistance for Arkansas counties

Jun. 7--Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has requested federal disaster relief for eight Arkansas counties following the 500-year flood that has devastated the region.

The disaster declaration request is for disaster assistance in Sebastian and Crawford counties, as well as Conway, Faulkner, Jefferson, Perry, Pulaski and Yell counties. This request follows President Donald Trump on May 30 signing an emergency declaration to send FEMA aid to 16 counties including the eight listed.

Preliminary damage assessments estimate more than $27 million will be needed to cover temporary housing, repair, replacement housing and other needs within the state. Debris removal is estimated at more than $8.5 million, and infrastructure loss at more than $100 million.

"It's important to note that these are early estimates on damages from a flood of historic proportion, and there's no doubt in my mind that the final damage assessments will be record breaking, as well," Hutchinson says in a news release Friday. "These preliminary estimates are based upon assessments while the water is still in place. As the water recedes, we will have a clearer picture of the overall damage in the state, but it's important to get this information in as quickly as possible so that the President can have the information needed to act."

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