Senate committee adopts concurrent resolution to form disaster resilience task force

Senate Concurrent Resolution 67, proposing a state task force to study disaster risk and resilience, was adopted unanimously by the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee.

Senator Robin Webb, who introduced the resolution, said recent extreme weather and flooding across the state prompted the proposal. “This task force will bring individuals together to identify risks, resilience factors, how the state can best prepare and, and then mitigation and remediation,” Webb said, describing work the panel would undertake on risk identification, mitigation, insurance market concerns and intergovernmental response.

Webb outlined the scope as statewide and cross‑sector, noting experience working with national organizations including the National Conference of State Legislatures and the American Flood Coalition. Committee members cited recent floods and tornado events in Kentucky, and Senator Nunn framed the resolution in prevention terms: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Members discussed task force composition. Senator Boswell asked whether the National Guard should be added; Webb said she would not object. Committee membership as submitted already includes the Division of Emergency Management and the executive director of Homeland Security (or their designees). Senator Nunn and others urged broad representation to address mitigation, notification systems and insurance market challenges.

A motion to adopt the committee substitute was made and seconded; Senator Nunn moved the resolution with Senator Tichenor seconding. Roll call votes recorded Senators Boswell, Higdon, Nunn, Reed, Richardson, Tichenor and Chair Deneen voting aye. The committee chair announced the resolution “passes unanimously.” The resolution, a concurrent (study/advisory) measure, directs the creation of a task force rather than imposing new regulatory requirements.