The Federal Emergency Management Agency today made a final decision on whether to declare a federal disaster in Dumas and other parts of Desha County struck by the Feb. 24 tornadoes.
The final decision was no.
But FEMA is releasing 30 mobile homes (from its stockpile of thousands) to house homeless in the affected areas.
U.S. Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor have issued statements condemning the decision.
“It took 12 long days for FEMA to make a final decision about the disaster declaration, and it was the wrong one,” Pryor said. “This agency, under the direction of President Bush, is abandoning the residents of Dumas. It is inexcusable, and deserves a thorough examination of their purpose. As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I plan to do just that.”
P.S. This is what downtown Dumas looked like after the tornado hit: