Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Arkadelphia Joins Project Impact; Town Hall Opens

Arkadelphia has formally joined Project Impact, a disaster-resisting effort of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

James Lee Witt, director of FEMA, welcomed Arkadelphia into the network of some 250 other communities across America. "Arkadelphia," he said, "has taken steps to ensure the community is safe from natural disasters and serves as a role-model for other communities to follow."

The celebration took place at the newly rebuilt town hall Tuesday, Nov. 21. The opening of the new City Hall represented the rebuilding process from the March 1, 1997, tornadoes that destroyed about 60 percent of downtown Arkadelphia.

The new town hall was built with safety glass to protect those inside from flying glass during high winds or tornadic events.

Along with the tornado risk, the city has been plagued with flooding problems, but has already taken steps to prevent future disaster damage in Arkadelphia. These steps include establishing an all-hazards plan, with a generator for the Arkadelphia Fire Department, conducting safe room education and promotion programs, installing safety film in all public schools and implementing drainage projects throughout the city.

Arkadelphia has also established partnerships with local businesses, universities, civic groups and governmental agencies. Through Project Impact, the city will work to expand these partnerships and tap into the national Project Impact partnerships base.

"Arkadelphia's participation in Project Impact will accelerate the community's efforts in safeguarding its residents and their property," said Arkadelphia Mayor Chuck part of this initiative."

Under the PI program, communities assess their vulnerabilities to natural disasters, enforce stricter building codes, strengthen existing buildings and infrastructures, offer incentives for taking prevention measures and educate the citizenry about prevention measures they can take in their homes and businesses.

Project Impact has shown for every dollar spent on prevention, at least two dollars are saved in disaster recovery costs.

The program was implemented in 1997, and since then some 250 communities and 2,500 business partners have joined.