President Trump issues major disaster declaration for Arkansas | What to know

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — On Tuesday evening, President Trump announced the decision to declare a major disaster in Arkansas for the storms and tornadoes that the state experienced in mid-March.

This comes after FEMA previously made the decision to deny Arkansas’s Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance (IA) and the request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance (PA). 

Following FEMA’s original decision, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders made an appeal.

“Arkansas communities are still recovering from this spring’s tornadoes, as the sheer magnitude of this event resulted in overwhelming amounts of debris, widespread destruction to homes and businesses, the tragic loss of three lives, and injuries to many others,” she said.

The original request for aid was made for the following counties:

• Baxter
• Stone/Sharp
• Hempstead
• Independence/Randolph
• Sharp/Randolph
• Nevada
• Independence/Jackson
• Randolph/Clay
• Woodruff
• Clay
• Greene 

After the completion of damage assessments, the State of Arkansas submitted a request to the White House for a Major Disaster Declaration.

Now, after a phone call with Gov. Sanders, President Trump made the decision to declare a Major Disaster in Arkansas for the state’s March 14-15, 2025, storms.

“Our entire state is grateful for President Trump’s leadership and assistance as we recover from the devastating storms that struck Arkansas earlier this spring,” said Governor Sanders. “I had a productive conversation with the President in which he expressed his support for our state, and I offered my full endorsement of his plans to reform FEMA to save money and provide greater direct assistance to disaster victims. I am also thankful for Secretary Kristi Noem, who, as a former governor, understands how to support states as they rebuild from natural disasters.”

As part of the declaration, individual assistance will be offered to Arkansans impacted by the storms.