OAK GROVE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) –As floodwater in Oak Grove continues to decrease, city officials are looking toward the future, figuring out how to best aid residents who will soon have to tackle extensive cleanup efforts.
During the May 1 Oak Grove Committee of the Whole Meeting, they discussed the Emergency Action Plan that the city has in the case of a disaster situation. At the previous Oak Grove City Council meeting, the need to adjust the plan was brought up, with council members feeling like there was a breakdown in communication that led to a lot of confusion among city officials and residents when flooding began.
Randy Graham with Christian County Emergency Management shared during the meeting that due to the department’s role and the county-wide plan they have in place, it is not necessary for each individual city to have a separate Emergency Action Plan.
Council member John Campbell felt the response was too slow in assisting residents when it was clear early on that severe flooding would take place in Oak Grove. Due to flood predictions anticipated to be severe for several days before the weather event, Campbell believes that the city should have been ahead of the game with preparation of sandbags for the community.
They also discussed FEMA’s arrival in Christian County, with in person assistance now available to residents affected by the flood at Murray State University in Hopkinsville. Additionally, the Red Cross is allowing members of the community to apply for financial aid beginning on May 12 through May 17.
Cleanup prep
“The amount of water down there still is scary,” said council member Janet Edwards, also noting that the cleanup will be a massive undertaking due to the extent of the flooding. Dumpsters will be provided to certain areas, with FEMA reimbursing the cost.
With continuous rain the forecast for the next few days, it was explained that a large-scale cleanup cannot be done until the water dries out. For now, the city has pumps still installed in neighborhoods to manually assist in the removal of water.
Edwards also said that there were still plenty of supplies available for residents at the Oak Grove Community Center. Items include totes with masks, bleach, shovels, hygiene products, paper towels, toilet paper, and food for anyone in Christian County who still need supplies.