Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) declared a state of emergency on Friday, as several tornadoes ripped through the state and left at least two dozen injured.
\u201cHere at the Capitol I just signed an executive order declaring that a State of Emergency exists in the State of Arkansas due to today\u2019s severe weather,\u201d Huckabee Sanders said in a tweet. \u201cWe will spare no resource to assist with response and recovery efforts for Arkansans impacted.\u201d
She also activated the Arkansas National Guard to assist state and local police, amid reports of \u201csignificant damage.\u201d
\u201cPraying for all those who were and remain in the path of this storm,\u201d she added. \u201cArkansans must continue to stay weather aware as storms are continuing to move through.\u201d
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. said on Twitter that at least 24 people had been hospitalized in the state\u2019s capital, but no fatalities had been reported as of his 7 p.m. post.
\u201cProperty damage is extensive and we are still responding,\u201d he added.
There were also confirmed tornadoes in Iowa, hail fell in Illinois and grass fires blazed in Oklahoma \u2014 part of a massive storm system threatening a broad swath of the country in the South and Midwest.
The news also comes as President Biden\u2002and first lady Jill Biden were visiting Rolling Fork, Miss., on Friday, after tornadoes ripped through the area last week, killing more than 20 people and destroying buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n