Woodford Fiscal Court approves land-use agreement to host FEMA disaster-recovery center

The Woodford County Fiscal Court unanimously approved a land-use agreement allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and local partners to establish a temporary disaster-recovery center at the county senior center to assist residents affected by recent flooding.

The court’s action, moved by Squire Downey and seconded by Squire Blackford, came after a FEMA representative described operations the agency will provide locally. The representative said, “we're gonna have disaster survivor assistance on the ground…they're the ones that go door to door and try to specifically reach out to the underserved portions of the society,” adding that the center will also host application specialists, the Small Business Administration, Red Cross and hazard-mitigation personnel.

Court and FEMA officials said the center will have a small footprint at the senior center and is intended to make federal assistance more accessible to residents who lack internet access or have poor connectivity in flood-damaged areas. The FEMA representative told the court the center will likely open with a soft opening and then operate extended hours — typically 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and reduced hours on Sundays — and that the footprint is expected to remain “generally for 30 days,” subject to state direction.

Judge (presiding) asked for the agreement after FEMA reported the county was among 16 Kentucky counties declared for federal assistance. The court approved the land-use agreement by voice vote; the judge announced the motion carried unanimously.

County officials said the center could also host representatives related to an expedited buyout program, contingent on Kentucky Emergency Management and other approvals. FEMA noted limited cell and internet service in low-lying river areas and said door-to-door outreach teams have been focusing on older residents and those without computers.

The court did not set a specific start date in the meeting; FEMA representatives said a soft opening could follow a build-out as soon as the week after the agreement is executed. Officials asked residents to watch for updates from county and state partners about the center's opening and hours.

Funding, operations and the duration of the center will be coordinated among FEMA, KYEM and the county; FEMA said it will follow state direction on when to demobilize the site.