President Trump declares state of emergency in Arkansas

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - As Hurricane Laura continues its northward journey through Louisiana to Arkansas, President Donald Trump declared an emergency exists in the Natural State.

The president ordered federal assistance to supplement state and local response efforts, according to a news release from the White House press secretary.

The declaration reads:

Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that an emergency exists in the State of Arkansas and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Laura beginning on August 26, 2020, and continuing. The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe statewide. Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding. Pete Gaynor, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Roland W. Jackson as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced during Wednesday’s daily COVID-19 briefing that he had issued an emergency declaration allocating $250,000 for preparations.

A.J. Gary, director of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, said Wednesday his office had been in “constant contact” with FEMA.