WASHINGTON (TND) — Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency Friday as The Natural State prepares to host an influx of tourists for Monday’s solar eclipse.
Specifically, Sander’s state of emergency is concerned with potential disruptions to commercial shipping and consumer goods in the state, from groceries and toiletries to livestock and fuel.
“I hereby declare that a state of emergency exists with respect to commercial carriers transporting essential items of commerce to customers in Arkansas during this emergency, including but not limited to groceries, pharmacy items, medical equipment, goods, commodities, fuel, poultry, livestock, and feed,” Sanders said in the disaster declaration dated Friday.
As part of the declaration, Sanders also issued an executive order for $100,000 from the Governor’s Disaster Response and Recovery Fund for use by the director of the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management to aid those companies and organizations transporting commercial goods into the state, to ensure that Arkansas residents will still have regular access to essential goods.
The executive order temporarily removes regulations on drivers of such delivery vehicles for the number of hours they can work — i.e. drive — in a day, rest periods for such workers, and the like.
The disaster declaration lasts until Wednesday.
