14-02-2025
GRADD to use public survey to shape 2026 disaster readiness plan
DAVIESS COUNTY, Ky. (WEHT) — For the Green River Area Development District, a public survey could be the key to protection against future natural disasters. The organization is seeking opinions on disaster readiness for the first time. They'll work to make improvements through 2029.
GRADD builds out a hazard mitigation plan every four years. The plan acts as a strict guideline for seeking government assistance.
',,,whether that's earthquakes, flooding, tornadoes, anything that can impact our region,' says Chris Cunningham, GRADD's Regional Resiliency Coordinator.
If a concern for disaster preparedness comes up after the plan is finalized, but is not represented in the language…federal funding won't be an option until the next cycle.
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For the first time, an anonymous survey is being offered to people in every county represented by the organization. The results will help spearhead the plan design.
'…a variety of people, at different income levels, [as many] different age ranges, as possible. Currently, what we're seeing is more of the senior members of our community's response,' says Amy Methaney, GRADD's Community Development Planner.
Updated Federal Emergency Management Guidelines emphasize working to ensure voices normally unheard don't slip through the cracks.
Officials say as a result of the 2021 hazard mitigation plan, Daviess County acquired 2 generators.
'One is a turbine generator that the office of emergency management has, and the other one was an emergency operations center generator for Daviess County Emergency Management,' says Cunningham.
We're told the 2017 plan remedied a flooding problem on 60 West and Stanley.
'Since then, the roadway has been raised, with federal dollars, to prevent flooding on that road,' says Cunningham.
This year, they've already received over 2 dozen completed surveys. Three public meetings will be held leading up to the final plan's deadline.
'Fema will approve it in December of [2026], hopefully, and it will go into effect in 2027,' says Cunningham.
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