WHEREAS: On or about June 17, 2023, severe storms and straight-line winds occurred, causing great damage to private property and public facilities in jurisdictions across the State of Arkansas;
WHEREAS: Adverse circumstances have been brought to bear upon citizens and public properties throughout the state; and
WHEREAS: These political subdivisions require supplemental assistance from the state to recover from these losses.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, acting under the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Arkansas, and pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. §§ 12-75-101, et seq., do hereby declare Ashley County a disaster area and authorize funds from the Governor’s Response and Recovery Fund under the Public Assistance Program. Such funds will be used at the discretion of the Director of the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management to defray both program and administrative costs.
FURTHERMORE, I hereby invoke emergency executive powers vested in me by Ark. Code Ann. §§ 12-75-101, et seq., as amended, and suspend the provisions of regulating statutes prescribing procedures for conduct of the Office of Procurement, the Division of Building Authority, the Office of Personnel Management, and all other state departments and agencies to render maximum assistance to the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management relative to any potential impediment to the rapid and orderly rendering of assistance to political subdivisions.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Arkansas to be affixed this 1st day of August, in the year of our Lord 2023.