28-01-2025
Proposed Kentucky house bill would create emergency volunteer corps
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — State lawmakers are hard at work during the legislative session, already filing several bills in both the state house and state senate.
One proposed house bill could greatly impact how the state responds to emergencies in the future.
If passed, House Bill 41, filed by Rep. John Hodgson (R-Jefferson) and Sen. Aaron Reed (R-Shelbyville), would establish the Kentucky Emergency Volunteer Corps, or KEV.
This group of volunteers would help assist first responders and emergency management personnel across the state whenever Kentucky faces an emergency like flooding, tornadoes, or, as was the case this month, extreme snow and ice.
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In recent years there's been an uptick in those kinds of events and with more likely in the future, Hodgson said now is the time for Kentucky to prepare.
He said the KEV would be a key resource for quicker response while also preventing first responders from getting overworked.
'I think people take a lot more ownership in the community when they volunteer for it; they get some fulfillment of that,' Hodgson said. 'I think we could create a group of volunteers at each county that are reporting to that county emergency manager that have been trained to standardize levels and have a uniform. So, when the disaster occurs. But the county emergency management manager can call everybody out; let's go to work. Let's direct traffic loss, distribute water, get on the radio, remove storm damage.'
If the bill does pass this legislative session, there would be a few requirements one would have to meet to become a KEV member.
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Those requirements include:
Being between the ages of 18-64.
Pass a background check.
Be physically able to perform various tasks (depending on the role).
Complete one-week basic training and FEMA training class.
Regardless of whether or not the bill passes, Hodgson said it highlights something that has become a part of the Kentucky way.
That is Kentuckians' willingness to always help their neighbors before helping themselves.
Specifically, in some of the more rural parts of the state, Hodgson said there has never been a moment where he hasn't seen people helping someone else during a time of need, from changing a flat tire to when we have seen tornadoes or floods destroy parts of the state.
He's confident that should this bill get passed, there will be no shortage of people wanting to volunteer.
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Hodgson also feels this bill could also be an avenue for young people who have an interest in giving back.
'They say that as a nation, our readiness of youth that are eligible to join the service, about 77% of them can't meet the qualifications because they're out of shape,' Hodgson explained. 'I think that's a national security concern, so it'll help kids get more active, get more, get training, get more competency in responding to emergencies. Stuff that my generation may have had to learn growing up but the modern electronic generation might not.'
Hodgson said he's confident if the bill passes as well, it will be a great connector between generations, as there will be a shared commitment to service from those young and old that volunteers can use to relate with one another.
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