Little Rock, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency Thursday for severe winter weather.
The executive order authorizes $250,000 from the Governor’s Disaster Response and Recovery Fund to be used by the director of the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management to “defray both program and administrative costs.”
The order also said commercial vehicles transporting “essential supplies and equipment” such as food, fuel, medical supplies, and more will be allowed to bypass Arkansas Department of Transportation weigh stations through Feb. 23. Utility trucks will also be allowed to bypass these stations.
This declaration only applies to weigh stations and vehicles traveling in a convoy and does not relieve size and weight restrictions.
“Such emergency is in response to severe winter storms, extreme low temperatures and high fuel demand resulting in difficulty in distribution of necessary heating fuel, including propane, natural gas, and heating oil in the state, and the current and anticipated effects on people and property, including the immediate risk to public health, safety, and welfare,” the order said.
Craighead County is under a winter storm warning from Friday at 6 p.m. to Sunday at 6 p.m.
| READ MORE: Craighead County under winter storm warning
The National Weather Service predicted heavy mixed precipitation, with total snow and sleet accumulations expected to range between six and nine inches. Ice accumulations of less than a quarter of an inch are forecasted.
To check the latest road conditions, check IDriveArkansas.com. To activate the winter weather layer on the IDriveArkansas website or app, click the snowflake icon.
