LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Once approved for FEMA disaster assistance grants, Arkansas disaster survivors receive funds via check or a direct deposit to their checking account. They also receive a letter from FEMA providing information about the grant and how the money must be spent.Disaster recovery officials urge recipients of federal grants to use the money wisely.Applicants sign a declaration and a release certifying that all funds will be spent on the expenses for which they are intended. These grants are for repairs, temporary housing and other approved essential disaster-related costs....

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A mobile State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center will visit Searcy in White County from Wednesday, July 24 through Thursday, July 26, to help those whose homes or businesses were affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding between April 26 and May 19.The disaster center location and hours are as follows:White County  White County Emergency Service Office 2301 Eastline Road Searcy AR 72143Monday, July 24 through Wednesday, July 26Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.Disaster Recovery Centers are staffed...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Two more Arkansas counties are now eligible to apply for FEMA’s Public Assistance funding to supplement state and local recovery efforts in areas that sustained damage from April 26 to May 19.Fulton and Searcy counties may now request reimbursements under the Public Assistance grant program. Assistance would cover eligible disaster-related debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair or rebuilding of public facilities, such as roads, bridges, water control facilities, buildings, equipment, public utilities, parks and recreational facilities.The president’s June 15, 2017, major disaster declaration was amended...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A mobile State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center will visit Des Arc in Prairie County on Saturday and Sunday, July 22-23, to help those whose homes or businesses were affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding between April 26 and May 19.The disaster center location and hours are as follows:Prairie County Courthouse Annex605 Highway 38 EastDes Arc AR 72040 Saturday, July 22, through Sunday, July 23 Hours: Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.Disaster Recovery Centers are staffed with representatives from the Arkansas...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Most people associate the use of motor homes with recreational life—accessing parks, lakes and other scenic areas to reduce the stress of the daily grind.FEMA maintains a national fleet of similar vehicles it rolls out for a different purpose—to reduce the stress on rural residents recovering from natural disasters. Their technical name is Mobile Communications Operations Vehicle, or MCOV. As such, they often are used as command vehicles in various response or recovery situations.Where federal disasters are declared, MCOVs become Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRCs).FEMA stages MCOVs...