Snow hazards persist as National Guard units aid isolated citizens

Members of the Arkansas National Guard with the Vital Link team in Izard County.

State and local officials say the Arkansas National Guard has been deployed to assist residents in snow-stalled parts of Izard County after Gov. Sarah Huckabee-Sanders declared a state of emergency.

The Izard County Office of Emergency Management confirmed members of the 871st Support Company/224th Maintenance, a four-person Guard unit with two response vehicles, are now supporting Vital Link, a coordination effort to reach residents facing medical emergencies who remain snowed in on hard-to-access roads.

“Guard personnel will work with emergency teams to reach residents in need,” county officials said in a statement, thanking the National Guard and all area emergency agencies “for their continued support and for keeping our community safe.”

While major highways through north central Arkansas are reported as passable, officials warn that many side roads remain snow-covered and hazardous, contributing to widespread closures of county and city offices, schools, and numerous local businesses on Tuesday.

A blast of Arctic air continues to grip the region. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures in the upper 30s on Tuesday assisted with some thawing, though overnight lows will remain near 16°F, keeping sub-freezing conditions in place into Wednesday.

For a complete list of closings and cancellations, visit the White River Now Facebook page.

Images via the Izard County Office of Emergency Management