Coffey County declares local disaster emergency for ‘Blair’ storm to preserve FEMA reimbursement options

Coffey County commissioners declared a state of local disaster emergency for the winter storm named "Blair," authorizing the chairman to sign a declaration aimed at preserving the county's potential eligibility for federal reimbursement.

The declaration, moved and approved by voice vote on Jan. 7, 2025, followed comments from county leadership that county resources were not exceeded during the storm but that filing a local declaration can improve counties' ability to seek Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursements for response costs such as staff overtime.

Why it matters: Declaring a local state of disaster does not itself guarantee FEMA support, county officials said; winter-storm incidents historically receive less FEMA reimbursement than tornadoes or other sudden-onset disasters. Commissioners noted the county did not request outside aid during the event but encouraged personnel who worked extended hours to track time and related costs for possible reimbursement requests.

What commissioners said: The transcript shows the county's emergency and road staff reported that crews were out for extended periods, power outages were largely resolved, and the Weather Emergency Alert (WEA) messages prompted many residents to stay home. The board voted to authorize the chairman to sign the state of local disaster emergency; the county administrator had placed a verbal declaration on file during the weekend and the board completed paperwork Monday.

Ending: County officials directed departments involved in the response to document labor and material costs and to provide that documentation if federal or state reimbursement opportunities develop.