My daughter is beside herself becaus she put her palms and ferns outside and then we had a frost. She is afraid there's no hope. Are they dead or can they come back from this?

The only growth point on a palm is the very tippy top where the leaves grow from the trunk. If that is alive, they will be fine. I see green on both. Cut the brown fronds off and wait for new growth. Watch the weather forecast more closely.

The only way to find out is the old "wait and see." Trimming off the ruined foliage would be great if the idea appeals. It can't turn green again.

The green at the base of most of the leaves makes me think it was just a setback, not a kill.

Actually you can find out now. Locate the central spear (what Lucy mentioned). It's the last frond to emerge from the crown. GENTLY, and I do mean gently, tug on it. If it pulls right out of the crown, it's dead. If it doesn't, it's alive.
If your palms pass the tug test, trim off all the dead fronds and wait. Don't fertilize. Palms grow slowly..if it has no fronds, food is not a good thing.
You may have to wait awhile before it grows back out