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In Arkansas, our cherished way of life is defined by our many small towns and communities and the wonderful people that call them home. Recently, one of our treasures, the town of Dumas in Southeast Arkansas, was devastated when a tornado ripped through the heart of the community leaving numerous residents homeless and jobless. In a flash, the way of life we in Arkansas hold so dear was destroyed for the residents of Dumas.
A tornado with winds exceeding 150 miles per hour rarely leaves anything but a trail of destruction, and in the case of the tornado that touched down in Desha county last weekend, that’s exactly what happened. By the grace of God, no one was killed in this violent storm. In one instance, a commercial meat locker is all that protected several residents from the life-threatening dangers of this powerful storm.
I had the opportunity to travel to Dumas with Governor Beebe to visit with the people who live there and see the destruction first-hand. The destruction was widespread and the community’s resources were weakened significantly. Yet amidst all of the destruction and damage, what was most impressive to me was the will of the people of Dumas who have pulled together to get through this tragedy. I saw restaurants, banks and churches providing meals to clean up crews and countless residents helping their neighbors by offering shelter and any type of assistance they could. Inspired by this spirit of unity, I have temporarily opened a district office in the Dumas City Hall to assist local officials and residents in their road to recovery.
I am now working at the federal level to make sure these families who have been affected have all they need to rebuild and put their lives back together again. I have spoken with David Paulison, the Federal Administrator of FEMA, and written a letter along with Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor to President Bush requesting Federal disaster assistance for Dumas. Currently, FEMA is storing more than 8,000 brand new, fully furnished manufactured homes in Hope. I am currently fighting so that these manufactured homes can be made available to those Arkansans left homeless by this storm. Their close proximity to the disaster provides a perfect opportunity for FEMA to put them to good use.
In times of a natural disaster, it is imperative that we all join together to help those in need. The rebuilding of a community is never easy, but I am committed to do all that I can to assist the people of Dumas as they begin the process of rebuilding their community. Because of the spirit of the people of Dumas, I know Dumas will be back better and stronger than ever. |
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