Chris Mason, Pulaski County’s emergency management director, told the fiscal court the county has a state‑approved emergency operations plan for the first time since 2020 and is moving to strengthen disaster response after an EF‑4 tornado and spring floods this year.

“We didn’t really have an effective emergency operations plan,” Mason said, adding the plan “is now sitting on the judge’s desk.” He credited recent relocation of the county emergency operations center for improving response during the tornado and said the county will pursue additional expansion to increase mobile capability for incidents such as active‑shooter responses.

Mason highlighted expected federal reimbursements tied to recent disasters. He said three road projects (John Hayden, Bluejohn and Charter Oaks Roads) total $222,585.50 that he expects to receive from FEMA and KYEM within about 45 days, and he reported more than $1,000,000 in FEMA individual assistance already delivered to residents. “If I can get FEMA the right paper, we will get the money. It’s literally that simple,” Mason said.

Mason urged the court to prioritize a countywide emergency shelter network, noting a figure in his notes that “around 15,000 mobile and manufactured homes” exist in Pulaski County and that many of those dwellings are not designed to withstand significant storms. He said temporary shelter capacity and a plan for those residents should be an immediate priority.

The court approved two resolutions authorizing Mason as the county’s applicant agent for state/FEMA processes and naming Kristen Morris as the alternate. Mason said he will file the paperwork with the state so FEMA reimbursements can be processed.

Mason also commended volunteer fire departments, the special response team, the rescue squad and inmate crews for their response and cleanup efforts, and he asked the court to keep those teams well funded to maintain readiness.

What happens next: Mason said he will return with specific proposals and budget requests in the coming months for EOC expansion and for a shelter network; the court approved the applicant‑agent resolutions needed to pursue state and federal reimbursements.