FEMA Issues Emergency Declaration for Arkansas Following Severe Winter Storm
Areazine synthesizes this FEMA disaster declaration directly from FEMA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
FEMA has authorized emergency assistance for 31 counties in Arkansas to support recovery efforts following a severe winter storm that began on January 23, 2026.
What this FEMA disaster declaration tells you, and what most readers miss
This notice was issued by FEMA on April 6, 2026 and geographically references Arkansas. Its severity classification of "high" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken - "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to - Disasters - determines the disaster-declaration framework behind it, which shapes what relief and protective action (evacuation orders, shelters, federal or provincial assistance eligibility) may follow and which agency holds authority over the declaration.
Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to verify its scope, source, and timestamp, then compare related notices without assuming that one record proves a broader trend.
Areazine pairs this record with the original agency URL so you can check the primary source before acting. Its related labels are disaster, fema, Winter Storm, Arkansas.
What Happened
On January 24, 2026, an emergency declaration (EM-3636-AR) was issued for the state of Arkansas in response to a severe winter storm. The incident began on January 23, 2026, prompting federal intervention to assist state and local recovery efforts.
Affected Areas
A total of 31 counties in Arkansas are included in this declaration:
- Saline
- St. Francis
- Howard
- Randolph
- Pulaski
- Hot Spring
- Conway
- Prairie
- Pope
- Hempstead
- Polk
- Poinsett
- Greene
- Columbia
- Calhoun
- Pike
- Phillips
- Grant
- Perry
- Ouachita
- Garland
- Cleveland
- Newton
- Nevada
- Fulton
- Montgomery
- Monroe
- Franklin
- Cleburne
- Bradley
- Baxter
Federal Assistance Available
FEMA has activated the Public Assistance (PA) program for the designated areas. This program provides federal funding for emergency protective measures. At this time, Individual Assistance (IA) and Hazard Mitigation (HM) programs have not been declared.
What You Should Do
Residents in the affected counties should stay informed through local emergency management updates. Although Individual Assistance is not currently part of this declaration, residents can monitor potential changes in status or find preparedness resources by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov or using the FEMA mobile app. For those seeking general information, FEMA can be reached at 1-800-621-3362.
Source
Original source: FEMA Official Notice ↗
Related Disasters
All Disasters →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this FEMA disaster declaration.