FEMA Working with those impacted in NWA

BOONE COUNTY, AR.- Many people in Northern Arkansas are still cleaning up from the tornados that battered the region over Memorial Day weekend.

In total, the state saw 25 tornadoes last month – including a deadly EF-3 twister in Boone County.

For many people in the small town of Olvey and the surrounding area, their lives changed forever on May 26 ^th . But FEMA and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management want people to know they are not alone as they rebuild.

“Let’s get you all the help you need as quickly as possible to start your recovery as quick as possible,” Keith jones with FEMA said. “Because when your life changes in an instant and it’s going to take weeks and months to recover, we want to start that sooner rather than later.”

Jones is from Dallas, Texas, but he and several other FEMA workers made their way north to assess the damage in Boone county and help people apply for federal aid.

“I’ve also had the opportunity to speak with Arkansans and hear the stories of surviving this incident, this storm. Truly resilient people,” said Jones. “And I was really impressed with how quickly your local officials, first responders and the community cleared all the roadways to make them passable to get to work. “

Boone County fire coordinator Tom Kramer says funds are available to help cover the cost of damages to homes and property.

But it will also take a big volunteer effort to get things done quickly. Saturday, the community will hold another cleanup.

“Anybody in the community that wants to go and help, meet at Valley Springs school at 8 A.M. If you do not have a rake, shovel, pitchfork or chainsaw, that will fit your hands at your house, we will find you one that does.”

For those looking to get federal assistance, the first step is to complete the registration process at Disasterassistance.Gov.

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