Emergency Declared in Arkansas After Thunderstorms

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — In response to severe thunderstorms that swept through northwestern Arkansas, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared an emergency on Saturday. The storms, which occurred Friday night, brought strong winds that resulted in significant damage, including downed power lines across the region. As of midday Saturday, approximately 10,000 customers were reported to be without electrical service, according to data from poweroutage.us. The impact of the storms has prompted state officials to take swift action to facilitate recovery efforts in the affected areas. Governor Sanders' emergency declaration aims to expedite the restoration of power by waiving regulations for commercial vehicles transporting heavy equipment necessary for repairs. This includes essential items such as transformers, which are critical for restoring electrical service to the impacted communities. The declaration underscores the state's commitment to addressing the aftermath of the storms and ensuring that residents can regain access to electricity as quickly as possible. Local authorities and utility companies are mobilizing resources to assess the damage and begin the recovery process.