LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — United States Small Business Administrator (SBA) Isabel Guzman and Associate Administrator for the SBA Office of Disaster Recovery, Francisco Sanchez Jr. received updates on the progress of recovery from the May 24-27 severe weather storms.
During a luncheon on July 18, Arkansas Division of Emergency management (ADEM) Director A.J. Gary and Deputy Director Jodi Lee made the presentation.
Held at the Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC), members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), state representatives, city officials, and other local entities were in attendance.
Congressman Steve Womack joined Administrator Guzman as well. While on campus, he visited the Benton County Disaster Recovery Center which is in the Becky Paneitz Student Center at NWACC.
In the briefing, Gary and Lee spoke about the state’s immediate response in the face of danger, and also stressed the importance of examining the damaged areas for survivors to receive the aide being provided.
On May 27, 2024, the Arkansas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Secretary Colonel Mike Hagar and Gary joined Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, local leaders, and members of the Arkansas Congressional Delegation for a tour through the areas that were impacted.
By May 29, 2024, A Major Disaster Declaration request to President Joe Biden was made by Governor Sanders and it was approved the next day.
As of yesterday, FEMA has provided $5.7 million to those impacted by the severe weather events.
Over 5,700 registrations for Individual Assistance have been submitted, with an average approval amount of $6,900 per household.
About 534 applications have been submitted and SBA has approved $12,984,000 for businesses and also individuals.
The last day to apply for Individual Assistance through FEMA is Wednesday, August 28, 2024.
Businesses and individuals who received economic injury have until Monday March 3, 2025, to apply for assistance.
August 28, 2024, is the deadline for businesses and individuals who received physical damage to property to apply for assistance.
