Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Monday afternoon that she has requested a Major Disaster Declaration from President Joe Biden for areas affected by severe winter weather in January and February.
"The sheer magnitude of this event created disastrous amounts of debris, caused extensive power outages and resulted in the death of two Arkansans and the injury of many others," she said in a news media release. "Thirteen hard-hit Arkansas counties have sustained significant damage to infrastructure, businesses, agriculture, and property – and we must provide these Arkansans with the assistance they need to fully recover."
She said her request is for hazard mitigation statewide and for public assistance for 13 counties: Bradley, Calhoun, Cleveland, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln, Nevada, Ouachita, Searcy and Stone.
Ouachita County Judge Robert McAdoo stated, "There was a lot of damage, even to some water facilities and structures outside of Ouachita County. Most of our damage was downed power lines and trees across the road -- that kind of stuff -- and I declared an emergency on that day."
McAdoo estimated the county sustained about $100,000 worth of damages.
McAdoo noted that state disaster reimbursement is 35% while federal disaster reimbursement pays for 75% of the damages.
"We basically got most of our damage on a track from 278 West up across Chidester/Red Hill into Bearden and then, associated with that, Nevada County had their damage, Clark and Dallas and Cleveland (counties) -- that that was kind of the track of the major brunt of the damage," McAdoo said.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette contributed reporting to this story.