Minutes

Monroe County , Kentucky

February 8, 2005

A public meeting was held in the Monroe County Fiscal Court chambers on Tuesday, Feb, 8, 2005. The meeting was conducted by Kyle Key, Hazard Mitigation Planner, Barren River Area Development District.

Those attending were given several forms, including a sign-in card, an agenda and the worksheets for identifying hazards. Mr. Key said the meeting would be informal, with questions welcomed at any point. He discussed the Stafford Act and the work of FEMA and the State Division of Emergency Management in organizing the planning process. He described how the Barren River Area Develop-ment District had established Special Purpose Committees to work with the State Climatologist in determining the problems inherent in the region.

Alfonso Casana , Technical Services Director, reviewed the data available through the BRADD website. Dr. Foster's 2001 study of natural hazards in the BRADD, FEMA documents, and much of the State Hazard Mitigation Plan are available. The website also offers opportunities for citizens to review what has been done and to make comments or ask questions. For persons who do not have Internet access, the local library offers computer access and assistance. All materials are available for inspection at the library or through the office of the County Judge / Executive. The New Madrid earthquake was discussed and the threat described in recent studies. The severe winter storms, particularly ice storms, also drew comments. The Monroe County vulnerability rankings were reviewed.

Kyle Key, Safety Coordinator and Hazard Mitigation Planner, reviewed the process for identifying hazards, profiling hazard events, inventorying assets, and estimating losses. In the general discussion, the problems of sinkhole collapse were described. Monroe County is in the karst terrain, in which this type of hazard is prevalent. Several noted that Barren County had been included in the presidential declaration of 2004 following a straight wind episode, one of two in the region, which had not been discussed in the State plan. Straight winds are a phenomenon only recently being discussed and not well defined in many hazard publications. Those attending were asked to participate in the identification of hazards affecting Monroe County and the region, and the risk of danger each posed. (The consensus identification is Attachment A)

Mr. Key distributed a list of goals developed in other ADDs, discussing each as to applicability. Those attending expressed views supporting the aims and flexibility. The list was adopted by consensus. Mr. Key said the discussion could be continued via the Internet. He said the Special Purpose Committees would review all materials and comments. The work will be returned for open discussion meeting this spring.

The meeting was adjourned.