Faulkner County officials praise deputy after water rescue; describe countywide flood response

Faulkner County officials at a quorum court meeting highlighted a roadside water rescue by Faulkner County Sheriff’s Deputy Steven Canino and described a coordinated multi‑agency response to a recent four‑day weather event that produced flash flooding.

The court’s members praised Deputy Steven Canino after video of him wading into fast water to reach a stalled vehicle circulated. “Your patrol deputy, Steven Canino, is standing waist deep,” a speaker said during the meeting, calling his actions “heroic.” Officials said Canino walked the vehicle’s occupants to safety before rescue teams arrived.

Court and county staff described broader flood response efforts. County officials reported producing more than 4,000 sandbags over roughly 48 hours using newly acquired sandbagging machines and distributing sandbagging units to nearby cities, including Greenbrier, Mayflower and Conway. The county’s emergency operations center coordinated volunteers, reserve deputies and municipal crews; judges and others also organized community service hours to help fill bags.

County staff and the judge said sandbagging equipment that uses a corkscrew feed and pneumatic controls eased an otherwise manpower‑intensive effort and allowed the county to maintain supply as residents lined up before rain arrived. Officials said they temporarily limited sandbag distribution to a dozen per vehicle early in the response to conserve supply.

The court also discussed recurring flood hazards at specific low‑lying roads. Officials described efforts to pre‑position barricades and noted repeated incidents where motorists drive around them; the judge said the sheriff’s office and prosecuting attorney would pursue charges if barricades are intentionally moved and a life is put at risk. The judge urged residents not to drive into standing water, citing repeated rescues and the danger of losing vehicle control even in a few inches of water.

Officials said they would place permanent high‑water witness marks at several locations (to survive future administrations) after forecasting changes at upstream reservoirs produced new flood‑crest projections. County staff said the recent river forecast revisions focusing on an Arkansas River pool prompted alerts to local farmers and reinforced the need for visible, long‑lasting flood marks.

Speakers also thanked reserve deputies, emergency squad members and city partners for mutual aid during a search outside the county for a missing resident; county personnel and volunteer drone teams supported the search at the family’s request but reported they were unsuccessful in locating the person.

Officials emphasized coordination across departments — sheriff’s office, emergency management, road department and municipal partners — and called the overall planning, communication and sandbagging efforts examples of successful interagency response during the event. The judge closed the discussion by urging continued public caution around floodwater and adherence to barricades.

Less critical details: officials said road shoulders and minor infrastructure were damaged but largely repaired, and the county will continue follow‑up repair work as needed.