Benton County Division of Public Safety requests residents report personal property structural damage from the May 26 storm through the Benton County Citizen Damage Reporter. The Citizen Damage Reporter is a portal where citizens can enter their estimated personal property structural damage.
Individuals should only report damage if debris, such as trees, has punctured their homes. Benton County will need clear photos of the damage done to the home itself. All reports sent in will be reviewed by the Division of Public Safety and used for disaster declaration purposes.
Benton County needs damage report information, as it will assist us with information the State and FEMA need to determine if Individual Assistance (IA) will be available. Individual Assistance (IA) is to assist individuals with uninsured losses to their homes. It does not help with vehicular damage, downed trees, or fences; it is strictly for a person’s residential structure only.
The damage report information will only be shared with the State of Arkansas and FEMA for these purposes. If IA becomes available, we will reach out to the individuals and let them know the steps for applying for IA through the State and/or FEMA. Governor Sarah Sanders has declared a disaster declaration for Benton County.
If Benton County attains a presidential disaster declaration, then citizens may be eligible for federal assistance through FEMA. More details will be released for residents if a federal disaster declaration is made.