Arkansas set to receive $20 million from FEMA for flood mitigation

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas is set to receive millions of dollars in federal funding to help reduce flood risks around the state.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Tuesday that Arkansas has $20 million available for flood mitigation through the agency’s 2023 Swift Current funding opportunity .

Officials said the funding is designed to get money in circulation as soon as possible after a flood disaster to help communities make upgrades to reduce future flood risk. The funding specifically supports people who have National Flood Insurance Program policies and have suffered repetitive and substantial flood damage.

The money can be used for property acquisition, demolition, elevation and relocation, FEMA officials said. Arkansas was added to the eligibility list due to the state having a federally declared major disaster related to flooding in 2023.

The funding is included in the Biden administration’s Justice40 Initiative to deliver 40% of federal benefits to disadvantaged communities.

The funding announcement also comes on the same day a study found Arkansas was the seventh in the nation for flood events in 2023, a 32.1% increase over previous years, according to the study authors . The study continued that nationally, 2023 was the third-highest year for damages caused by flooding at $9.3 billion.

Arkansas, along with Massachusetts and Texas, were all added to the FEMA eligibility list on Tuesday.

“Along with the 18 other states and one Tribal Nation already selected, Arkansas, Massachusetts, and Texas will now have faster access to funding to make communities safer from the climate crisis,” FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell said.

Officials point potential Arkansas applicants with questions to the FEMA Region 6 website ; subapplicants should contact their Arkansas hazard mitigation officer .

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