Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has declared a state of emergency following storms that caused damage and claimed the lives of five individuals in northern Arkansas.
In a news release, Governor Sanders stated, “I, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, acting under the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Arkansas, do hereby declare a state of emergency and direct the sum of $250,000.00 to be obligated from the Governor’s Disaster Response and Recovery Fund to be used at the discretion of the Director of the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management to defray both program and administrative costs.”
The executive order further outlines measures to facilitate the restoration of power, including the exemption of commercial vehicles carrying essential equipment from Arkansas Department of Transportation weigh station facilities until June 9, 2024. This exemption applies to emergency response vehicles actively involved in storm recovery efforts, such as utility vehicles and supply trucks, but excludes vehicles requiring permits or those not traveling in convoy. Size and weight restrictions remain in effect despite this authorization.
“We’re sending our prayers to the communities affected by last night’s storm and to the families of those we lost from Arkansas,” she posted on X, previously called Twitter.
Huckabee Sanders also mentioned she plans to visit the affected regions on Monday to provide personal assistance and facilitate the allocation of resources. Currently, in Arkansas, three individuals have lost their lives, and numerous others have been injured in the northern counties.
