Severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in Ark. prompts more than $770K in assistance from US Labor Department

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $771,218 National Emergency Grant to Arkansas following damage caused by the severe weather events that occurred on April 27. These funds are being awarded to the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services to hire temporary workers to assist in cleanup and recovery efforts.

"A major tornado tore through Arkansas in late April, turning the lives of those affected upside down," said Portia Wu, assistant secretary of labor for employment and training. "These funds will not only help the community recover and rebuild, they will also offer unemployed individuals an opportunity to work and assist with the cleanup efforts."

On April 29, the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared several counties in the state of Arkansas as eligible for its Public Assistance Program. Workers dislocated as a result of the disastrous weather, as well as the long-term unemployed and other eligible dislocated workers, may be placed in temporary cleanup and recovery jobs with today's funding.

National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary of labor's discretionary fund and are awarded based on a state's ability to meet specific guidelines.