Individual assistance available to residents of 11 flooded counties

Above: Inmates from three state prison units helped stack sandbags around homes near Toad Suck in Perry County, where just six months before flood waters had breached the levee.

Residents in 11 counties can apply for FEMA disaster assistance. The deadline to do so is April 5, 2016.

Arkansans in Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Faulkner, Jackson, Jefferson, Lee, Little River, Perry, Sebastian and Sevier counties who sustained uninsured or underinsured damage by the late winter storms, winds and flooding can now apply for assistance from the state of Arkansas and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Other counties may become eligible for disaster assistance if warranted by these damage reports.

On Feb. 5, 2016, President Obama approved Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s request for a major disaster for the state as a result of severe weather and flooding from late December 2015 through January 2016.

Public Assistance (PA) for emergency work and repair/replacement of disaster-damaged facilities is available for 32 counties: Benton, Boone, Bradley, Calhoun, Carroll, Clay, Crawford, Dallas, Drew, Franklin, Greene, Independence, Izard, Lawrence, Little River, Logan, Madison, Marion, Mississippi, Montgomery, Ouachita, Perry, Pike, Polk, Randolph, Scott, Searcy, Stone, Washington, White, Woodruff, and Yell Counties.

Individual Assistance (IA) for individuals and households is available for residents of 11 counties.

Individuals and business owners can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov11. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services call 1-800-621-3362.

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Top Left: AAC Executive Director Chris Villines welcomes Cleveland County Treasurer Jack Hopson to the community center.

Bottom Left: Drew County Clerk Lyna Gulledge and District Court Judge Sara M. Sawyer stop to pose for a photo.

AAC, Drew County host legislative meet and greet

The Association of Arkansas Counties along with Drew County hosted a legislative meet and greet Tuesday, Jan. 26 in Drew County at the Sadie T. Johnson Community Center in Monticello. About 60 people attended the event, including county officials from seven counties, incumbent state senators and representatives as well as challengers for the state house and judicial races, city officials and state office holders.

“This regional concept is a part of AAC’s local outreach efforts as we aim to build on our stakeholders’ relationships and partnerships with not only our association but also with state senators and representatives and state government in general,” said Scott Perkins, AAC legislative and communications director.

The AAC is in the process of planning its next legislative meet and greet and plans to continue the project throughout the next year.

“As the official voice for counties, the AAC understands the importance of collaborating and communicating on the local level and spending face time in our various counties,” said Chris Villines, AAC executive director. “We sincerely appreciate all who made the time to attend and participate.”

AAC extends a special thanks to the following people who helped make the meeting a wonderful success:

Lyna Gulledge, Drew County Clerk

Robert Akin, Drew County Judge

Pam Donaldson, Chicot County Clerk

Beth Davis, Drew County Assessor

Michelle Hammons, Drew County Deputy Clerk

Top: AAC Executive Director Chris Villines and AAC Legislative and Communications Director Scott Perkins introduce themselves to the crowd, which included county, district and state officials, as well as candidates seeking offices in districts covering Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Cleveland, Desha, Drew and Lincoln counties.

Middle Left: Chicot County Assessor Joe Dan Yee speaks with State Land Commissioner John Thurston.

Middle Right: Ashley County Judge Dennis Holland, Cleveland County Judge Gary Spears and state Sen. Eddie Cheatham visit during the meet and greet.

Top Left: AAC Executive Director Chris Villines took a group of students from J.A. Fair High School on a tour of the state Capitol. Top Right: ACE Program Coordinator Karan Skarda helps a student fill out a voter registration form. Bottom Left: Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde, Pulaski County Sheriff Doc Holladay and Pulaski County Coroner Gerone Hobbs discussed their roles in county government. Bottom Right: Prairie County Election Commissioner Harvey Joe Sanner demonstrates how to use an electronic voting machine.

AAC partners with Jr. Achievement of Arkansas, hosts students on National Groundhog Job Shadow Day

For National Groundhog Job Shadow Day on Feb. 2, Junior Achivement of Arkansas partnered with seven businesses or organizations across Pulaski County. The Association of Counties was one of them.

A total of 280 students from the Little Rock School District learned about career opportunities and how the skills they learn in school can be put into action in the fields of technology, finance, insurance, engineering, healthcare, telecommunications, energy and public service.

AAC hosted approximately 65 students in grades nine through 12 from J.A. Fair and McClellan high schools. The students visited the state Capitol, registered to vote, learned more about the voting process and listened as a panel of Pulaski County elected officials discussed the requirements of their jobs.

During a working lunch of pizza, the students also garnered resume-writing tips and had the opportunity to ask questions of the AAC staff.