The Northeast Arkansas Mayors Caucus gathered in Paragould on Wednesday, April 9, for its quarterly meeting, bringing together 28 municipal leaders to address disaster preparedness. Guest speakers included A.J. Gary, director of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, and Ryan Vaughan, chief meteorologist for KAIT 8, who provided insights into emergency response protocols and weather preparedness.
Gary outlined the steps in place for disaster response at the local, state and federal levels. Vaughan discussed how news outlets help prepare communities ahead of severe weather events.
Paragould Mayor Josh Agee and Wynne Mayor Jennifer Hobbs shared their experiences leading recovery efforts after tornadoes impacted their cities. Agee described the challenges of planning for a disaster and the realities of responding when one strikes. “If a tornado hit your community, you know, it’s one of those things that you can plan and plan and plan, but until it happens, you don’t know if your plan’s gonna work. You don’t really know how things are gonna go,” Agee said.
The meeting offered city leaders an opportunity to exchange best practices and identify ways to improve preparedness. Speakers stressed the importance of adaptability and resilience as severe weather events become more frequent.
The Caucus, now in its fourth year, also serves as a platform for collaboration among regional leaders. Leaders discussed ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships and address shared challenges. “Really building a collaborative spirit and making sure that…when you see each other once or twice a year at Little Rock at the Municipal League, it’s not the same as meeting every couple of months and strengthening bonds. It’s been tremendous,” Agee said.
The Caucus has facilitated legislative successes in the past, including efforts to streamline debris management regulations. Agee highlighted the broader benefits of regional collaboration. “When one city has a win, every city around them is going to benefit from that…collaboration is key for us to be able to compete,” he said.
The meeting concluded with leaders exchanging lessons learned and strengthening connections, ensuring the region is better equipped to face future challenges.
