Arkansas National Guard Deploys Black Hawks, Troops to Texas Flood Recovery

In response to the devastating flooding in Texas that resulted in over 110 deaths, Arkansas has mobilized its National Guard under Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders' orders to assist with rescue and recovery efforts, including transportation for search and rescue teams near Austin. Twenty-two Arkansas National Guard members and four Black Hawk helicopters have been deployed to support rescue and medical evacuation operations. Concurrently, an Arkansas Legislative Council subcommittee, co-chaired by State Senator Missy Irvin, is investigating emergency communication challenges within Arkansas, particularly focusing on cellphone coverage gaps and improving disaster warning systems to prevent tragedies similar to the 2010 Albert Pike flood disaster. The subcommittee aims to collaborate with federal agencies and local governments to enhance technology use and emergency alerts. These efforts highlight Arkansas' commitment to both providing immediate aid to Texas and addressing its own vulnerabilities in disaster preparedness and communication infrastructure.