Arkansas Guard on Alert for Spring Floods Along Key Rivers

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas National Guard is on high alert for spring flooding along the Arkansas River, White River and Ouachita River amid persistent heavy rains soaking the state. Maj. W.B. Phillips II, state public affairs officer, confirmed troops are coordinating with the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management to support counties as needed, echoing the Guard's robust 2019 flood response that provided critical aid to limit damage.[1][4] This readiness comes as Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' administration bolsters disaster plans integrating the Guard with the Arkansas State Police, Division of Emergency Management and Department of Transportation. Recent deployment of four UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and 22 soldiers, plus six maintenance personnel, to flood-ravaged Austin, Texas, on July 8, 2025—where over 100 perished—honed their search-and-rescue skills through July 12.[2][3] Two liaison officers remained at Camp Robinson to manage support. North Little Rock-based Guard units emphasize communication, logistics and mutual aid in versatile frameworks addressing floods, tornadoes or other crises. Past efforts, like the 2019 operations requested by county officials, underscore their role in protecting low-lying areas from Pine Bluff to Jonesboro, where river crests often isolate residents and erode infrastructure.[1][4]