Benton County Updates Tornado Recovery Efforts
Federal, state, and local officials gathered in Benton County to provide an update on the ongoing tornado recovery process. The news conference highlighted the united efforts by officials from various levels of government to facilitate the recovery process and assist affected communities.
Benton County Judge Barry Moehring emphasized the importance of debris disposal, specifying that private citizens can utilize one of three designated sites for this purpose. These sites accept different types of debris, with the location in Decatur handling construction and demolition debris in addition to vegetative debris. Citizens are encouraged to leave their organic debris at the curb for pickup.
Elected officials stressed the crucial role of local organizations in the relief efforts. State Sen. Tyler Dees praised churches and nonprofits for their significant contributions in providing vital supplies, including food. The First Baptist Church in downtown Decatur remains open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to support those impacted. Dees further mentioned that students are actively participating in the recovery process through their community service hours.
City-wide cleanup initiatives are being planned, with Bentonville Mayor Stephanie Orman announcing a city-wide cleanup for the following Wednesday. During this event, residents can place debris on their curbside for collection. For detailed information, the public can visit the city’s disaster information page online. Orman also encouraged the public to use the compost area at 2000 NW A Street.
In Rogers, cleanup operations are underway, with more than 87 cubic yards of vegetative debris collected so far. Mayor Greg Hines highlighted the importance of avoiding placement of debris in storm drains and asked residents to cooperate during the cleanup process. Rogers has compiled a list of resources for affected citizens, which includes their ongoing storm drain cleaning.
FEMA’s involvement in the recovery process was emphasized by Lacey Kanipe, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management. A Disaster Recovery Center was recently opened at Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville to offer individualized support to those needing assistance. This center operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, and additional centers may be opened in the future. The public is also encouraged to download the FEMA app and exercise caution while clearing debris.
Beyond governmental initiatives, private organizations like the Excellerate Foundation continue to support affected communities. President and CEO Jeff Webster reported that the Benton County Relief Fund has distributed financial aid to individuals and families in need. The public can apply for assistance and make donations via the fund’s online platform.
These collective efforts by government officials and local organizations underscore the strong commitment to supporting and rebuilding the communities devastated by the tornado.
- Debris disposal sites are accepting different types of debris for citizens to dispose of.
- Local organizations are providing vital supplies, including food.
- City-wide cleanup initiatives are planned, including a curbside debris collection in Bentonville.
- FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Center offers one-on-one support to affected residents.
- Private organizations like the Excellerate Foundation are providing financial aid to those in need.
