Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK — Thirty Arkansas counties ravaged by a January ice storm will receive nearly $10 million for recovery efforts, the state’s congressional delegation announced Tuesday.
Two northern Arkansas utilities also will share $5 million in recovery funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Thirty counties across northern Arkansas that bore the brunt of the storm will receive $9.85 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to repair damaged roads and highways.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) distributed more than $2 million to the Craighead Electric Cooperative and nearly $3 million to the North Arkansas Electric Cooperative for recovery efforts.
“Cleaning up the damage and debris required considerable time and manpower,” said U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark. “I’m pleased FEMA and DOT came through with more federal resources to help offset the costs electric cooperatives and counties incurred.”
The storm swept through the northern tier of counties in late January, dumping up to three inches of ice that downed trees and power lines. More than 1.3 million homes and businesses primarily in Arkansas and Kentucky were left without power.
DOT assistance was earmarked for Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Cleburne, Conway, Craighead, Crawford, Cross, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Mississippi, Newton, Poinsett, Pope, Randolph, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, Van Buren and Washington counties.
