NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A powerful tornado outbreak tore through Arkansas on March 15, 2025, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The storms claimed three lives, all in Independence County on Claxton Loop in Cushman, and injured 32 people across multiple counties.
Authorities confirmed three additional injuries after the initial tally, underscoring the widespread impact of the disaster as of Sunday, March 16, 2025.
The storms battered homes, uprooted trees, and severed power lines, affecting thousands of residents. Independence County, located in northeast Arkansas, bore the brunt of the fatalities, with the small community of Cushman hit particularly hard.
In response to the catastrophe, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a State of Emergency late Saturday, effective through March 29, 2025, unless terminated earlier. The declaration unlocked $250,000 from the Governor’s Disaster Response and Recovery Fund to bolster recovery efforts statewide.
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The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) sprang into action, coordinating critical aid to the hardest-hit areas
. The Arkansas Rural Water Association (ARWA) delivered three generators to Sharp County to restore essential services, while AT&T and Verizon deployed a Satellite on Wheels (SOW) and a Cellular on Wheels (COW) to Cave City, ensuring communication lines remained operational.
Additionally, 52 members of the Arkansas National Guard were dispatched to Cave City to provide general assistance and secure key sites, aiding residents in the recovery process.
