Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders declares disaster for May Hot Springs tornado, storms

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – As cleanup continues a month after a tornado slammed Hot Springs and other parts of Garland County, Arkansas officials are authorizing new reliefs for local residents.

On Tuesday, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued an official disaster declaration for Garland County tied to the May 8 severe storms and tornado.

By issuing the declaration, the governor makes the county to be eligible for Public Assistance disaster relief under Arkansas law.

The EF-2 tornado that hit Hot Springs had a path length of 12.2 miles and was the 12th tornado the Natural State saw in May. A tornado with an EF-2 rating would be considered “strong” and have gusts of winds ranging from 111-135 miles per hour.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning just after midnight on May 8 that started in rural Garland County before heading into Hot Spring and Saline Counties.

While there was a great deal of destruction connected to this storm, no injuries tied to the severe weather were reported.

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