Weekly Column
Statement
On February 24, 2007, our people in South Arkansas faced a natural disaster in the form of severe storms, accompanied by heavy rainfall and high winds, including the touchdown of an F3 tornado in Desha County.
Within hours following the disaster, I had my own staff on the ground, along with emergency responders, State Police, National Guard Troops, officials of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas Forestry Commission and the Arkansas Department of Correction.
The day after the tornado, 800 Arkansans in a community of 5,000 woke up without their jobs. The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services already knows of 450 affected individuals and expects a total of approximately 500 to be out of work for extended time, roughly 10 percent of the Dumas population.
On February 25, my administration set up the State Emergency Operations Center in response to damages and resources requested in the Dumas area of Desha County.
On Tuesday, February 27, I requested federal aid, including direct federal assistance, housing assistance, and low-interest loans. I made this request of President Bush in a letter addressed to William Peterson, Region VI FEMA Director.
After my initial FEMA request, I spoke briefly with two FEMA officials about the damage reports. It wasn't until Thursday, March 8, that I received an official comment from the Department. That was ten days after the initial request and thirteen days after the tornadoes destroyed Dumas.
While waiting for a response from FEMA, my administration was receiving mixed messages through the media about our disaster request. There were quotes from anonymous FEMA officials stating that we were not going to receive federal assistance due to our current state-budget surplus. When we received the letter from David Paulison denying our request for assistance, the Bush administration made an offer of 30 FEMA trailers from the Hope Airport. On Friday March 9, we were informed that we were being given 23 mobile homes and 7 travel trailers. It was made clear that we could get more if needed (we subsequently did, receiving an additional nine travel trailers and one mobile home). However, no offer of assistance in moving the trailers was made.
I must thank Representative Mike Ross and our federal delegation for their persistence and attention to this disaster and for scheduling this hearing today to find answers to questions that are on the minds of all Arkansans: Why was Arkansas denied federal assistance for the people of Desha County and what lies behind the problems of the request process?
For every home obliterated or devastatingly damaged, there is a family who has lost everything except each other. For every business decimated or badly damaged, there is a dream postponed. For every day that passed without federal response, there was a trust betrayed.
To simplify the request process, these are our suggestions:
Implement a better system for timely response for disaster declarations from FEMA;
Clarify the requirements for federal aid under Title 44, Chapter 206, Section 38, Individual Assistance;
Provide a greater understanding of the subjective factors to be considered and how they are evaluated in making the decision for an emergency declaration;
Talk directly to state officials instead of through anonymous sources to the media;
Make FEMA's surplus trailers available for emergency housing, but separating that process from Emergency Declarations, so the request can be considered concurrently and in a more timely manner to better serve those impacted by a natural disaster and in need of temporary housing; and
Provide support for the transportation and set-up of FEMA surplus trailers, rather than just unlocking the gate for them to be picked up.
FEMA should not punish a community or a state for helping themselves. Don't punish people for having a good emergency plan in place to take care of themselves. We don't expect FEMA to solve all of our problems; we don't expect the federal government to solve all of our problems. We will take care of Arkansans regardless of federal help. Although it is much easier and much quicker and more thorough when we can be a partner with the federal government and obtain that assistance.
I ask that you keep the people of Dumas, who have suffered so much and lost so much, in your thoughts and prayers.
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