Arkansas

LiberalArkie

(17,990 posts) Sun Apr 6, 2025, 10:58 AM Apr 6

Gov. Sanders requests federal assistance from President Trump ahead of potential flooding

10:04 AM CDT April 4, 2025

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — On April 4, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders submitted a Major Disaster Declaration to President Donald Trump, requesting direct federal assistance after severe weather caused storms, tornadoes, and flooding statewide.

As another round of storms prepares to hit the Natural State, local and state agencies are working to keep residents safe and provide emergency relief.

“This week is bringing generational rainfall to Arkansas and, though our emergency personnel are working overtime to keep everyone safe, additional federal assistance is necessary for our disaster response efforts,” said Gov. Sanders. “I appreciate President Trump and his administration’s assistance as we work to save lives and property.”

The influx of rainfall is expected to impact water levels on the Buffalo River, Spring River, Little Red River, Cache River, Black River, Saline River, Ouachita River, Eleven Point River, Mississippi River, Petit Jean River, Little River, and White River, as well as add additional pressure to river levees.

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https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/gov-sanders-request-federal-assistance-president-trump/91-bbe558e6-ff54-4088-ad36-42a495587b3b

5 replies

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Gov. Sanders requests federal assistance from President Trump ahead of potential flooding (Original Post) LiberalArkie Apr 6 OP

Aren't the states supposed to handle these disasters themselves? Ocelot II Apr 6 #1

I have an idea johnnyfins Apr 6 #2

There is no FEMA UpInArms Apr 6 #3

True...but he will give the red states help if they beg properly...the blue states will get nothing PortTack Apr 6 #4

The problem is that FEMA is (or was) the vehicle for doing that. Ocelot II Apr 6 #5

Ocelot II

(124,322 posts)

1. Aren't the states supposed to handle these disasters themselves?

Reply to LiberalArkie (Original post)

Sun Apr 6, 2025, 11:02 AM

Apr 6

But Trump suck-up and former mouthpiece Sanders says "though our emergency personnel are working overtime to keep everyone safe, additional federal assistance is necessary for our disaster response efforts." Too bad your former boss's DOGE chewed up FEMA.

johnnyfins

(1,985 posts)

2. I have an idea

Reply to LiberalArkie (Original post)

Sun Apr 6, 2025, 11:05 AM

Apr 6

Maybe we should create a federal agency to assist in these sorts of disasters. We could call it the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA.

Maybe said agency could handle multiple large contingencies at once, to get help to people who need it. Then we wouldn't be dependent on the whims of ONE person?

Sound good?

UpInArms

(52,630 posts)

3. There is no FEMA

Reply to LiberalArkie (Original post)

Sun Apr 6, 2025, 11:05 AM

Apr 6

They killed it

DHS
Dept. of Homeland Security
"shift the majority" of FEMA's preparedness and response costs to states and localities.
Note: Trump created a council to review FEMA's structure, after telling the media "FEMA should go away".

https://www.project2025.observer/?subjects=iSE0KgC5JhEL2ooYxWMd9

PortTack

(35,572 posts)

4. True...but he will give the red states help if they beg properly...the blue states will get nothing

Reply to UpInArms (Reply #3)

Sun Apr 6, 2025, 11:07 AM

Apr 6

Ocelot II

(124,322 posts)

5. The problem is that FEMA is (or was) the vehicle for doing that.

Reply to PortTack (Reply #4)

Sun Apr 6, 2025, 12:22 PM

Apr 6

The president can't just send money directly to a state, because only Congress can authorize expenditures. As long as FEMA exists and is functional, he can direct it to send money and assistance to one state or another, but if there's no FEMA at all there's no disaster relief money for anybody. In fact, the federal agencies that exist to allocate money to states are being either cut or completely abolished, so how is Dear Leader going to reward the states he likes and punish the ones he doesn't like? He'll find a way but it won't be fast or easy.

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