Three dead, dozens injured as storms sweep through Arkansas
Gov. Sanders declares a state of emergency and releases disaster funds as officials assess damage in 16 counties.
Updated: 11:15 AM CDT Mar 15, 2025
Three people were killed in Independence County and at least 29 others were injured across eight counties after a storm system tore through Arkansas overnight, officials said Saturday.The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management said the numbers remain preliminary as damage assessments continue.Emergency officials have activated the State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate response efforts. Sixteen counties have reported damage, including Baxter, Clark, Fulton, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Nevada, Phillips, Randolph, Sharp, Stone and Woodruff.Authorities said homes and businesses sustained damage, and fallen trees and downed power lines were reported in multiple areas.In response to the severe weather, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued two executive orders declaring a state of emergency and authorizing disaster relief funds. One order directs $250,000 from the Governor’s Disaster Response and Recovery Fund to assist with storm-related damages and administrative costs.A second order temporarily suspends certain regulations for emergency response vehicles and commercial carriers transporting power restoration equipment. The directive allows utility trucks, bucket trucks and other response vehicles to bypass state weigh stations through March 29. The order also exempts commercial drivers hauling oversized loads, transformers and other necessary hardware from federal hours-of-service regulations for up to 14 days.
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY, Ark. —Three people were killed in Independence County and at least 29 others were injured across eight counties after a storm system tore through Arkansas overnight, officials said Saturday.
The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management said the numbers remain preliminary as damage assessments continue.
Emergency officials have activated the State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate response efforts. Sixteen counties have reported damage, including Baxter, Clark, Fulton, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Nevada, Phillips, Randolph, Sharp, Stone and Woodruff.
Authorities said homes and businesses sustained damage, and fallen trees and downed power lines were reported in multiple areas.
In response to the severe weather, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued two executive orders declaring a state of emergency and authorizing disaster relief funds. One order directs $250,000 from the Governor’s Disaster Response and Recovery Fund to assist with storm-related damages and administrative costs.
A second order temporarily suspends certain regulations for emergency response vehicles and commercial carriers transporting power restoration equipment. The directive allows utility trucks, bucket trucks and other response vehicles to bypass state weigh stations through March 29. The order also exempts commercial drivers hauling oversized loads, transformers and other necessary hardware from federal hours-of-service regulations for up to 14 days.
