Tragedy In Our State

The deadly weather that ripped through our state and much of the South last night has created a tremendous hardship to thousands of Arkansans. We were extremely fortunate in Southwest Arkansas to have missed the brunt of this storm. The Governor toured the damaged areas this morning and mobilized National Guard troops to help in the recovery. Destruction of this magnitude probably reminds all of us of the catastrophic tornado that devastated Arkadelphia just more than a decade ago. Killer storms are a fact of life in Arkansas and sometimes even the best preparation is not enough to stave off nature's wrath. Many of us have friends and family affected by this tragedy, and hopefully, the federal government acts quickly to provide assistance. I know that our State Department of Emergency Management has been on site since last night. I promise to provide any help that may be required legislatively and personally. I know a multitude of prayers will help the thousands of our neighbors in distress; and we can continue providing for their needs by opening our hearts and even our checkbooks during this difficult time.