Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — President Obama has issued a federal disaster declaration for 24 Arkansas counties that experienced damage from storms and flooding between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2, the White House announced today.

The declaration means federal aid will be available to supplement state and local recovery efforts in Bradley, Calhoun, Clark, Clay, Cleveland, Craighead, Dallas, Drew, Grant, Greene, Hempstead, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lincoln, Lonoke, Miller, Monroe, Nevada, Ouachita, Poinsett, Prairie, White, and Woodruff counties.

Federal funding will be available to state and eligible local governments and certain nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of damaged facilities in the affected counties.

The White House also said W. Craig Fugate, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has named Kevin L. Hannes as federal coordinating officer for recovery operations in the affected area.