People in western Arkansas who were hit by tornadoes and storms might have been turned down for disaster aid on their first try. But officials said that isn’t always the final answer.
“A letter that says you are ineligible for assistance is the beginning, not the end, of a conversation between you and FEMA,” David Maxwell, a state coordinating officer with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, said in a statement.
Maxwell said that by appealing that decision, people hit by the May 24-26 storms in Franklin and Johnson counties are asking FEMA to review their cases again. Submitting receipts and repair estimates to FEMA could change officials’ response about whether someone’s eligible for disaster aid.
“Applicants who receive an ineligibility letter can, and should, appeal the decision if they find circumstances have changed from the time they registered,” said Nancy M. Casper, a federal coordinating officer with FEMA. “Some Arkansans may have discovered additional damage to their property, or find they need housing help after all.”
Two people died in Denning and numerous homes were damaged when a tornado struck Franklin County in May. Two others died when a tornado hit Johnson County.
FEMA initially denied individual assistance to people in those two counties. But state emergency management officials appealed and the federal agency changed its course, declaring them eligible for aid in July.
Disaster aid can include grants to help pay for temporary housing and home repair.
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