Little Rock, Arkansas woke up to a scene of devastation on Sunday morning as severe storms swept through Northwest Arkansas. Governor Sarah Sanders declared a state of emergency and authorized funds for recovery efforts in the wake of the destructive storms.
During a press conference, Governor Sanders confirmed at least 7 fatalities resulting from the storms. The National Weather Service dispatch storm survey teams to assess the extent of the damage caused by the severe weather conditions.
Preliminary reports from the NWS indicated that an EF-3 tornado struck Boone County, with additional surveys pending in Benton, Marion, Baxter, and Fulton Counties. Barry Moehring, Benton County judge, reported a fatality in eastern Benton County and noted the collaborative efforts of various agencies in responding to the crisis.
The county’s top priority is focused on search and rescue operations and ensuring the safety of the community members affected by the storms. Multiple tornadoes were reported in various locations, with casualties recorded in Olvey, Boone County, as well as Baxter and Marion Counties.
Thousands of residents are currently without power, primarily in Benton County, with widespread outages affecting the region. Emergency officials have urged people to avoid unnecessary travel in the impacted areas to facilitate recovery efforts and ensure public safety.
Governor Sarah Sanders announced plans to tour the storm-impacted areas on Monday to assess the situation firsthand. The evolving nature of the situation underscores the need for ongoing updates and information as recovery and relief efforts continue to unfold.