Dear Friend,
My prayers are with you, your loved ones, and all those impacted by the recent tornadoes and severe weather. It’s been devastating to witness the destruction of a place we call home, filled with people and local businesses that are near and dear to our hearts. Although there’s a lot of work to be done to recover, I’ve been inspired by the strength and hope within the great people of our community. Arkansans are resilient. Together, we will rebuild and come back stronger.
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I spent Monday surveying the damage and helping response efforts alongside Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Senator John Boozman, and many state and local officials. Ensuring the safety and recovery of our community is a full team effort.
Thank you to our emergency first responders, state and local leaders, volunteers, and all those helping recovery efforts. We will all continue to work together to coordinate and deliver assistance.
My office has been closely monitoring the damage and recovery process and has been in touch with key federal partners. Below you may find helpful recovery information and an explanation of the recovery process.
Tornado Relief Resources
Citizen Damage Reporter: Benton County residents may ensure their damage is accounted for by submitting their information HERE.
Tornado Relief Efforts Community Resources: A running list of community resources, including information on services provided and donation and volunteer opportunities, can be found HERE.
Updates: Find additional resources and stay updated on the latest news in our area by visiting the links below.
Recovery Process
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On Wednesday, we welcomed FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to Northwest Arkansas to assess the damage in the region.
As we begin the road to recovery, it’s important to understand the process local and state governments go through to potentially receive assistance from the federal government. In short, here are the steps the government must follow:
1. Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) – FEMA and ADEM officials are in Benton County now doing assessments and will continue that process for both individual assistance and public assistance.
2. The Governor makes a request for federal assistance using the Joint PDA data to support the request.
- When this request is made, the Congressional Delegation submits a letter to the President in support of the Governor’s request for federal assistance.
3. FEMA and the President review the request. The President decides what federal assistance will be made available.
For more information on the process, you may find a FEMA explanation HERE.
We are here for you!
My office continues to stand ready to assist you and your family as we navigate the recovery process together. Please do not hesitate to give us a call at 479-464-0446 if you have any questions or concerns or visit my website HERE, where we will regularly update the page with resources. We are here to serve you.
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We are Arkansas strong!
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From the front...
Congressman Steve Womack
Arkansas Third District
U.S. Congressman
Steve Womack
Serving the Third District of Arkansas