It has now been three weeks since tornadoes devastated Desha County leaving more than 150 homes damaged or heavily destroyed and up to 800 people out of work because of the destruction of at least 25 businesses. With the delivery of at least 30 manufactured homes and travel trailers to the area, those left without a place to live now have a roof over their head and a place to call home.

I have worked tirelessly to help residents and business owners whose properties were affected by the severe storms and tornadoes. The Small Business Administration (SBA) heard our cry for help in Desha County and has made available low-interest disaster loans to help aid in the rebuilding process. The SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future. 

Recently, I demanded answers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during a hearing of the Committee on Homeland Security about FEMA’s lack of response during a time of need for Desha County residents. I will continue to request accountability from our federal government – especially FEMA, a first responder’s agency designed to help communities after a disaster.

I will not let a rural town with 5,500 residents become a forgotten town by the federal government. I want to improve this process for the next town that is forced to deal with tragedy due to a natural disaster that might not be declared a “federal disaster” by FEMA.   Ultimately, I will work to enact legislation empowering FEMA to distribute these 8,420 brand new mobile homes that were originally purchased for Hurricane Katrina victims to the people who so desperately need them in the direct aftermath of a natural disaster like the one that devastated Desha County.

Ross secured the hearing after the lack of a federal response due to the devastating storms and tornadoes that ravaged Desha County, Arkansas, on February 24, 2007. 

Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe testified as a witness on the panel which testified before the Committee. Ross made his remarks at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing entitled: “Disaster Declarations: Where is FEMA in a Time of Need?”

“I am frustrated with the massive bureaucracy involved in simply helping people in an emergency situation, which is what FEMA is supposed to be in the business of doing,” Ross said.  “It is astounding to me that for 13 days hard working families in my district had no where to live and yet, 160 miles away 8,420 new, fully furnished never used mobile homes sat untouched.”

The tornadoes that passed through Desha County, Arkansas, destroyed or heavily damaged more than 150 homes; caused up to 800 people to be out of work because more than 25 businesses were destroyed or heavily damaged; required the Governor to send in the National Guard to enforce security and for clean up purposes; and forced the town to be without electrical power for six days.  In this small town, with a population of more than 5,000, this level of damage and destruction has been overwhelming. 

“I want to use this hearing as an opportunity to improve this process for the next town that is forced to deal with a natural disaster that might not rise to the level of a ‘federal disaster’,” Ross said. “I hope to enact legislation that will empower FEMA or some other federal agency to distribute these surplus homes in a timely manner to the people who so desperately need them in the direct aftermath of a natural disaster.”

In the days and weeks after the devastating tornadoes, Ross called on President Bush, Director of FEMA David Paulison and Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff to declare Desha County a Federal Disaster Area and to move 150 of the 8,420 new, fully furnished mobile homes sitting less than three hours away at a FEMA staging area in Hope, Arkansas, for displaced storm victims.  It took two weeks before FEMA would respond to these calls and release 30 used manufactured homes to the state of Arkansas.

Ross was given special consideration to sit on the House Committee on Homeland Security for the hearing by Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (MS-02).

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The SBA disaster declaration covers the following Arkansas counties: Arkansas, Chicot, Desha, Drew, Lincoln, and Phillips.

“In times of a natural disaster, it is imperative that we join together to help those in need, and this is an example of how the federal government can serve as a useful tool when such disasters hit our communities,” Ross said.  “The rebuilding of a community is never easy, but by working together we can have a positive impact. These loans demonstrate that the Small Business Administration has not forgotten about the residents of Dumas, Back Gate and Desha County.”

“The federal government has a critical role to play in Southeast Arkansas’ rebuilding efforts,” Lincoln said.  “I am pleased that the Small Business Administration recognizes the tremendous need that exists in Southeast Arkansas’ communities, and I will continue to look for ways that the federal government can be of assistance.”

"As a member of the Small Business Committee, I have advocated to better fund many of the positive programs administered by the Small Business Administration," Pryor said. “In doing so, I’ve cultivated an important relationship with Small Business Administrator Steven Preston.  Clearly, he understands the need for swift action to help Dumas and its business community, and I am grateful for this assistance.  If only we could get FEMA to respond so responsibly following a disaster.”

The Desha County SBA Center will be located at the First United Methodist Church of Dumas which is located at 230 Court Street in Dumas, Arkansas. The center hours will be from 9:00 am – 5:30 pm Monday through Friday beginning March 13. The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is May 11, 2007, and the deadline to return economic injury applications is December 12, 2007. 

Disaster loans of up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate.  Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses of any size and private non-profit organizations may borrow up to $1.5 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.  SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future. 

Individuals and business owners unable to visit SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Center may obtain information by calling toll-free (800) 659-2955. 

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