Yesterday afternoon a beginning was made in a meeting at Willow Oaks north of Prescott hosted by Nevada County Emergency Management Coordinator David Gummeson to find out what can be done next for farmers who suffered property losses as well as animal losses last month.

Joining Gummeson were four county judges from around the region, representatives of Congressman Bruce Westerman’s, Senator John Boozman, Senator Tom Cotton’s and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ offices, State Representatives Dolly Henley and Justin Gonzales and two representatives of the Bank of Delight.

From the outset, Gummeson framed the discussion around three immediate issues: the uncertain status of federal Public Assistance, the absence of an Individual Assistance program for farmers and homeowners, and the limited avenues currently available through USDA and Small Business Administration programs.

Gummeson opened his presentation by saying that because the Federal Emergency Management Agency has decided to remove snow removal from what it will reimburse, many Arkansas counties are not likely to meet the required amount of their money spent so that they can be included in a Winter Storm Fern federal disaster declaration. 

The discussion that ensued concerned whether a deadline could be extended past 30 days to allow counties to gather more information about expenses incurred by their services and about farmers affected by building damage and loss of birds and other animals.  

Another central concern was the state’s ability to meet FEMA’s $10 million per state disaster threshold for Public Assistance after its declining to reimburse snow and ice removal costs. Even if counties meet their marks, the state and its property owners will likely need to show at least $10 million in winter storm-related expenses.

Gummeson explained that Public Assistance would cover government buildings, roads, fire stations and schools, but many counties now fall short because ice removal expenses are no longer eligible. In past winter events, he said, freezing rain and sleet had typically been reimbursable, even if snowfall itself was not. This time, FEMA’s decision to exclude ice removal has dramatically altered the financial picture.

He warned of the precedent this sets. If counties learn they will not be reimbursed for ice removal in future storms, judges may hesitate to commit scarce equipment hours and overtime dollars to road clearing during the next major winter event.

If FEMA ultimately denies the state’s request, assistance could revert to a state-aid disaster at 35 percent reimbursement rather than the 75 percent federal share. That shift would transfer a far greater burden to state and local budgets.

Compounding the problem is a strict 30-business-day compliance window tied to the Jan. 23 disaster date. Gummeson urged that the clock be paused to allow counties time to regroup, reconcile numbers and determine whether thresholds can be met. Several speakers agreed the timeline moved too quickly given the scale and complexity of the damage.

Beyond public infrastructure, the most urgent concern voiced throughout the meeting was the collapse of poultry houses across multiple counties. While some residential structures sustained damage, speakers emphasized that the overwhelming financial impact centered on agricultural operations, particularly broiler houses crushed under the weight of heavy sleet and ice.

Gummeson noted that early guidance from emergency management encouraged local coordinators to document poultry losses under the assumption they might qualify for Individual Assistance. That assumption later proved incorrect. FEMA and the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management signaled there was insufficient qualifying residential damage to justify an Individual Assistance declaration.

That left farmers looking primarily to the United States Department of Agriculture. Yet here, too, options appear narrow. Gummeson explained that existing livestock indemnity programs cover animals that freeze, not birds that suffocate due to structural collapse. To his knowledge, no current federal program covers poultry house structures themselves.

The Small Business Administration loan program remains technically available, but several participants, including Gummeson himself, expressed skepticism. Gummeson described concerns that heavily indebted producers could not realistically assume additional large loans simply to rebuild facilities while still servicing existing notes. The risk of cascading bankruptcies, speakers warned, could extend beyond farmers to local banks and tax bases.

Nevada County Judge Mike Otwell said the financial impact of FEMA’s apparent decisions will not be confined to poultry producers. Collapsed houses are removed from county assessment rolls, reducing property tax revenues the following year. He and others emphasized that the poultry industry’s scale means disruptions ripple through employment, lending institutions and consumer prices.

Hempstead County Judge Jerry Crane stressed that progress depends on collective action and communication with legislative offices. He urged continued engagement with state representatives and congressional delegations rather than remaining silent.

Speakers described the storm as unusually severe. Motor graders reportedly burned through carbon blades attempting to cut ice that refused to break free. While the National Weather Service did not classify the event as historic, at least three county judges characterized it as highly significant in both weight and duration.

A recurring frustration was the perceived lack of consistency in FEMA determinations from disaster to disaster. Gummeson said different FEMA teams cycle through regions, and interpretations of eligibility can vary. That unpredictability complicates local planning and budgeting.

Consensus gradually formed around several practical next steps.

First, participants agreed farmers should immediately report losses through USDA Farm Service Agency channels to ensure the most complete possible data set. Even if a program does not yet exist, solid numbers are essential to justify any new or supplemental initiative.

Second, coordination among USDA, the University of Arkansas Extension Office, the Poultry Federation and county officials was viewed as critical. Speakers suggested aligning reported figures so that federal officials receive one unified set of loss data rather than fragmented estimates.

Third, multiple voices favored pursuing both FEMA and USDA tracks simultaneously rather than abandoning one avenue prematurely. The strategy would be to exhaust every possible mechanism. FEMA Public Assistance for counties, exploration of Individual Assistance if thresholds could be reconsidered, and aggressive documentation for potential USDA or supplemental federal legislation (though the representatives from members of Congress and senators did not seem sanguine about the chances of such legislation to pass).

Fourth, participants discussed the possibility of requesting deadline flexibility, particularly if federal administrative slowdowns due to the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, layoffs in nearly all departments and winter weather have impeded timely data collection.

Throughout the discussion, the tone reflected urgency but also realism. No one suggested there was an immediate or guaranteed solution. Several acknowledged that federal program development can take months or even years.

Yet a shared set of goals did emerge around the understanding that the poultry sector’s scale in southwest Arkansas warrants an aggressive, coordinated push for relief.  County judges described clearing roads to ensure feed trucks could reach houses still standing, a circumstance that drives home the direct link between emergency response and the well-being of the agriculture business.

By the meeting’s conclusion, agreement centered on unity. Counties would compile and share hard numbers. Delegation offices would be consulted regarding deadlines and supplemental options. Engagement with USDA would intensify. And FEMA avenues would remain open until definitively closed.

Gummeson said he would circulate a written summary of the discussion to attendees to maintain momentum.

The work, nearly all in the room agreed, is only beginning.