President Trump approves Arkansas’ emergency request for assistance with severe winter weather

Published: Jan. 24, 2026 at 4:47 PM CST|Updated: Jan. 24, 2026 at 10:12 PM CST

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - President Donald Trump approved a request from Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders for an emergency declaration for direct federal assistance in response to severe winter weather.

Sanders requested federal assistance on Jan. 23 for the severe winter weather that began the same day. Arkansas will receive Category A and Category B assistance statewide, limited to direct federal assistance.

“All of Arkansas is grateful to President Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem for their work to prepare our state for this weekend’s severe winter weather,” said Sanders. “We have already deployed state resources around Arkansas and with this additional federal support, we’ll have greater capacity to assist Arkansans in need.”

Read Sanders’ full letter to the president.

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