Simpson County seeks FEMA aid after windstorm; officials outline safe-room, radio upgrades and debris plan

Emergency Management Director Robert Palmer told the Franklin City Commission and Simpson County Fiscal Court on March 7 that Simpson County is expected to qualify for FEMA assistance after the March 3 windstorm and described ongoing preparedness and recovery projects.

Palmer said he was aware of about 30 counties and 10 cities that had declared disasters after the storm and commended local emergency responders, electrical utilities, Dispatch and the Community Emergency Response Team for functioning in an incident-management role. He said he expects to apply for FEMA funds for storm damage.

On preparedness projects, Palmer described a SAFE room to be located at the entrance to the community park with an anticipated capacity of about 300 people and an estimated completion window of 18–24 months. He said he plans to seek additional safe rooms at other locations. Palmer said radio-tower site work on park grounds is expected to start by the end of April, with KSP and Motorola evaluating elevation; the tower base building has been ordered with delivery expected in October and tower completion around that time. He said most radios have been delivered to the Motorola dealer in Bowling Green, with tri-band radios arriving later and a KSP system switch anticipated in March–April 2024.

Magistrate Marty Chandler announced a manned vegetative debris disposal site on Kenneth Utley Drive to open Saturday, March 11, and operate Saturdays (and possibly one weekday) from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. with a noon–1 p.m. lunch break for several weeks to receive storm debris.

Palmer and officials did not provide cost estimates or confirmed grant awards at the meeting; timelines are estimates and the SAFE room and radio upgrades depend on funding and interagency coordination.