Governor Sanders takes questions after her press conference in Hardy (Courtesy of KARK)
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a cautionary message Monday about the state’s long road to recovery following severe natural disasters.
“This is going to be a long road forward for our state,” Sanders said during a news conference in Hardy, Arkansas.
Sanders had just completed an aerial survey of Hardy, a town severely affected by flooding after four days of intense rain and storms from April 2 to 5. The governor described the devastation as “absolutely heartbreaking.”
Hardy Mayor Ethan Barnes reported that unofficial data from the United States Geological Survey showed the Spring River, which runs through the town, crested at 22.82 feet due to the storms.
The mayor also noted that the Red Cross had set up a shelter in Hardy, offering aid to all residents affected by the storm, regardless of their specific location. Additionally, Barnes said that a semi-trailer of supplies from the National Church of Christ was en route to the town.
Sanders highlighted that while the recent storms, including tornadoes, hail, and heavy rain, were especially destructive, they were part of a broader pattern of natural disasters in the state. These included 14 tornadoes in mid-March and wildfires in late March that consumed approximately 12,000 acres.
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