Residents of Franklin and Johnson counties continued efforts at cleanup, repair and recovery Thursday from tornadoes that brought death and heavy damage to their communities a week ago.
"We're catching up," said Fred Mullen, coordinator of the Franklin County Office of Emergency Management.
Mullen said government officials were putting finishing touches on applications for public assistance — repair of infrastructure and reimbursement for services performed — that are being submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Administration.
Meanwhile, FEMA officials are assessing and calculating the impact of the storms on personal property and livelihood.
Mullen said it would likely be next week before President Barack Obama issues a federal disaster declaration, enabling FEMA to begin work on individual disaster assistance claims.
Tommy Jackson, public information officer with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, said FEMA calculations on damage will be released this week.
Mullen said cleanup in Denning and Etna, Franklin County areas hardest hit by the tornado, is progressing, with debris being stacked for collection.
FEMA guidelines specify debris should be sorted as wood items, white goods, scrap metal, vegetation and miscellaneous debris, and placed at the edge of private property for easier collection.
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