ARKANSAS, USA — On June 17, severe thunderstorms and strong winds hit the Natural State, which caused extensive damage across the state.
The storms damaged numerous power lines, and there was even a confirmed EF-2 tornado in Logan County. This left thousands of Arkansans without power.
As crews work to restore power, there is a need for commercial vehicles to haul heavy equipment, oversized loads, transformers, hardware, and other transmission and distribution equipment.
On June 20, Governor Sanders issued a state of emergency in Arkansas that applies to commercial and energy response vehicles assisting in clean-up and restoration across the state.
These emergency response vehicles will be authorized to bypass all Arkansas Department of Transportation weigh station facilities through July 17, 2023.
This authorization does not include vehicles that require permits to operate on Arkansas’ roadways and does not relieve size and weight restrictions. This declaration only applies to weigh stations and to vehicles traveling in convoys.
Additionally, all provisions of regulating statutes prescribing procedures for the conduct of the Office of State Procurement, the Arkansas Building Authority, the Office of Personnel Management, and all other state departments and agencies will be suspended.
This decision came to render maximum assistance to the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment and the Arkansas Department of Public Safety, through the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management.