BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — As Benton County residents continue to rebuild after the Memorial Day weekend tornadoes, assistance is still available.
Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said those impacted by storms on May 24-27 in Baxter, Benton, Boone, Fulton, Greene, Madison, Marion, and Randolph counties have until Aug. 28 to apply for assistance.
"The deadline is determined by when a federal disaster declaration is made, so 60 days after the declaration is made," Nikki Gaskins Campbell, FEMA media relations specialist assigned to Arkansas, said. "Whenever there's a federal disaster declaration, [the state] can always request to extend the deadline if they want to."
With the deadline less than a month away, officials said more than $19.9 million of federal assistance has been provided to survivors of the May storms. In this total, 1,758 households were awarded $6.2 million in FEMA assistance and $13.7 million worth of Small Business Administration disaster loans have been approved.
"We do expect that number to increase as we approach the deadline," Gaskins Campbell said.
How to apply
- Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
- Click on your county, provide your ZIP code or state and city, and select the disaster that affected you
- Provide details about your needs, including property damage, emergency needs, and additional expenses
- Create an account or sign in to Login.gov
- Revisit the DisasterAssistance.gov to submit your application to FEMA
- Through the FEMA Mobile App
- Calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362
- Visiting the Disaster Recovery Center at the Northwest Arkansas Community College in the Shewmaker Center for Workforce Technologies at 1000 SE Eagle Way, room B103, in Bentonville. Open from Monday to Saturday, between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
"Arkansans who had loss or damage should apply with FEMA even if they don’t have repair estimates or insurance settlements yet," the agency said in a press release. "To be considered, people in the impacted areas need to register with FEMA to begin the process. FEMA will work with survivors to identify what information is needed to determine eligibility."
Gaskin Campbell said for those who decide to apply for disaster assistance, residents must provide any insurance and proof of ownership or primary residency.
The agency wants to assess if any insurance is expected to help with the recovery. However, those with insurance can still apply for disaster assistance.
"I often hear people say, 'Well, can I qualify for disaster assistance if I have insurance?'" Gaskins Campbell said. "The reality is, you may [qualify] because you may not have enough insurance. So if you're underinsured or uninsured, we really encourage people to reach out to us because they could be leaving money on the table if they don't."
Again, the last day to apply is Aug. 28.
"Unfortunately, recovery is never a sprint. It is always a marathon," Gaskins Campbell said. "However, we do know the folks here in Arkansas are strong and resilient, and they will recover from these storms, and FEMA will be a piece of the puzzle to help them do so."
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