WHEREAS:   On or about January 02, 2023, severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding began, and continued thereafter, causing great damage to private property and public facilities in various jurisdictions in Arkansas;

WHEREAS:   Adverse circumstances have been brought to bear upon the citizens and public properties within the State; and

WHEREAS:   These political subdivisions require supplemental assistance from the State to recover from these losses.

NOW THEREFORE, I, SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, acting under the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Arkansas and pursuant to Ark. Code Ann.  §§ 12-75-101, et seq., do hereby declare Arkansas, Ashley, Clay, Garland, Lincoln, and Phillips Counties disaster areas;

FURTHERMORE, I authorize funds from the Governors Response and Recovery Fund under the Individual Assistance Program, in the amount of $1,189,600.00, to be used to provide supplemental disaster relief in Arkansas, Ashley, Garland, Lincoln and Phillips Counties. Such funds will be used at the discretion of the Director of the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management to defray both program and administrative costs;

FURTHERMORE, I, authorize funds from the Governors Response and Recovery Fund under the Public Assistance Program to be used to provide supplemental disaster relief to Clay County. Such funds will be used at the discretion of the Director of the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management to defray both program and administrative costs;

FURTHERMORE, I hereby invoke emergency executive powers vested in me by Ark. Code Ann. §§ 12-75-101, et seq., as amended, and suspend the provisions of regulating statutes prescribing procedures for conduct of the Office of Procurement, the Division of Building Authority, the Office of Personnel Management, and all other state departments and agencies to render maximum assistance to the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management relative to any potential impediment to the rapid and orderly rendering of assistance to political subdivisions.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Arkansas to be affixed this 27th day of January, in the year of our Lord 2023.