Beebe declares 9 more counties disaster areas

By ArkansasOnline

Gov. Mike Beebe today declared Conway, Craighead, Faulkner, Howard, Pope, Van Buren, White, Woodruff and Yell counties state disaster areas after flooding and heavy rains that began March 18.

This brings the total number of declared counties to 35. Previously declared counties include Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Crawford, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Logan, Madison, Marion, Nevada, Newton, Randolph, Scott, Searcy, Sharp, Stone and Washington.

The number of declared counties may continue increasing over the next week. Floodwaters have receded in some parts of the state, but some rivers are still cresting. Downstream communities remain at risk. As more damage assessments become possible, further state assistance and formal requests for federal assistance will follow.

For more information see Saturday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.