Pulaski County Emergency Management

05/27/2026

Pulaski Co. is under a special weather statement for the next 16 minutes. A T-storm is moving from the Monticello area to the northeast. Winds could reach 40 mph gusts which could break limbs and topple trees that are in water saturated ground.

05/25/2026

Remember why we have the freedoms we enjoy.

05/23/2026

OK, folks. I believe I need to publically answer some questions and hopefully calm some emotions about the legitimacy of the page.

The page was originally started in 2019 for personal use, but it soon dawned on me that because I did not post pictures of what I was about to eat, or discuss the latest songs by Taylor Swift, Facebook was pretty boring.

During the pandemic if 2021, I started using it as a source of public information, since there was no Public Communications Officer on the county's payroll. This is when the name was changed to Pulaski County Emergency Management (EM). The legal name of the county agency by ordinance is Pulaski County Office of Emergency Management. My personal page has never been an "official" page for the county. It was used to educate, inform, recognize individuals or agencies for the work in the county, and answer the occasional question concerning EM, such as, what EM does, who is involved, its responsibilities, etc. A more detailed explanation can be read in a prior post.

I have personally been directly and indirectly involved in EM for nearly 40 years. I have been involved in 29 Presidential Declarations at the county and/or state levels as well as Emergency Management Assistance Compacts (EMAC) in other states experiencing disasters. I reside in Pulaski Co., and have most of my life. I care about the people of PC and want the best for all who live and visit here.

I am no longer attached to any government entity by occupation. In other words, I work for my wife and am free of any affiliation that may prevent me from being a typical citizen, constituent, and taxpayer.

I have worked under the authority of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the KY Revised Statutes (KRS), KY Administrative Regulations (KAR), and numerous county ordinances across the Commonwealth as they pertain EM. I know about the Stafford Act of 1988 and what it entails, as well as the FEMA National Preparedness Goal, and the National Planning, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery Frameworks. I can describe the five FEMA Mission Areas with their 32 Core Capabilities, and have worked many hours in state and county Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) with the 15 Emergency Support Functions (ESF). In a nutshell, I am very familiar with how things are designed to work. When these principles are implemented in a jurisdiction, things flow very well. When the jurisdiction is "winging it," the jurisdiction is its own disaster.

My job now, outside of occasional EM consulting and technology reviews as it pertains to EM, is to help Pulaski Co. become a more resilient community by educating the people, provide training to responders, and openly identify that unpleasant male bovine oder when I sense it.

Like you, I am a taxpayer and have expectations. I am a constituent and have a voice. I have a goal, so I have a plan.

Finally, I pray for our leadership: our Judge, magistrates, Mayors, and councils. I hope you will do the same (Rms 13:1-5). By their actions (or inaction) they often times make it difficult to pray for them, but, the Lord knows, they need the prayer and I need the practice.

Please support the page with your questions, comments, thoughts, and ideas. All are welcome as long as it is done in good taste and we show mutual respect.

We can make Pulaski Co. better prepared, implement more organized responses, and be more resilient from disasters if we are all of one accord. We have to depend on each other to make it work; a unified idea and effort and not the dependency on governmental relationships.

Preparedness starts with home and family, and then helping our neighbors. If we all practice this philosophy, we will see major changes quickly.

Be safe,

Pulaski County Emergency Management

05/21/2026

Followers of PCEM,

You may have received a post concerning a "new" and "official" Pulaski Co. Office of Emergency Management page. This appears to be true, but let me offer an explanation as to why...

This page was established in 2021 during the pandemic because there was no adequate means of providing information to the public from the county officials. With nearly 40 years of emergency management experience and being directly involved in 29 Presidential Declarations, understanding the need for accurate and timely information can be critical.

After the pandemic, I continued to use the page for education, notifications, and general discussions about emergency management. When the current county EM Director was hired, I allowed him and the County Judge's Office to use the page for its intended purpose, and they have done so for the past 16 months. At the time of giving him permission to access the page, he was also told he should create his own or a page for the county's use.

As we approached the primary election, several candidates from many offices used this page to discuss their platforms. All ideas, questions, and opinions were welcome, so long as they were informative and in good taste. An article was shared on this site from the Somerset Pulaski Advocate, questioning the county's preparedness and response improvements since the May 2025 tornado. Comparisons were drawn from three different counties, all affected by the tornado: Pulaski, Russell, and Laurel.

The article was accurate and fair, and raised the question of improvements in preparedness and response (or the lack thereof).
After five minutes, the article was removed. The article was removed within three minutes after reposting. Hiding from perceived inadequacies does not improve anything, and hiding or attempting to cover the truth is unacceptable. Questioning civil authorities, especially when personal safety is involved, is not only acceptable but expected. Only three individuals had the capability to remove any post from this page, and it was not me.

Questions from constituents concerning the safety of themselves and their families should be welcomed, not removed. Because of the lack of true transparency and intent to hold those in these positions accountable, the privileges of Pulaski County to this page have been revoked.

I will continue to provide the citizens with reports, information, educational materials, etc., as well as answer any questions concerning emergency management. However, I will not speak for the Judge or the current Emergency Management Director, but I will identify incompetencies and try to provide help to those who acknowledge the need and are willing to take responsibility.

Thank you for your loyal support over the years, and I hope you continue to consult this page for any emergency management needs. We have been open and honest, and we would not ask you to "delete the other's bookmark" as the current EM Director has done.

Elected officials work for you. Ask questions and demand answers. Voice your expectations and require action. Pay your share of taxes, but audit the books. This is your county; take ownership.

We look forward to continuing to serve you,
Pulaski County Emergency Management

05/18/2026

https://www.somerset-pulaski-advocate.org/analysys-insights/opinions-editorials-commentary/3172638_editorial-one-year-after-the-may-2025-tornado

05/18/2026

Congratulations!!

Congratulations to our own Emma Gregory on graduating from DOCJT Academy, Class 171. We are so proud of you, and welcome back home. Job well done !!!!

05/16/2026

Pulaski County Announces Development of Countywide Printed Storm
Shelter Initiative

Somerset, Ky. (May 16, 2026) - Pulaski County Government and the Pulaski County Office of Emergency Management along with a first of its kind partnership with Somerset Community College have announced the development of a phased countywide storm shelter initiative centered on the potential acquisition of a mobile concrete printing system capable of constructing hardened tornado shelters and other disaster-resilient infrastructure throughout the county.

The initiative comes following the county's recent severe weather events, including the 2025 EF-4 tornado, which occurred exactly one year ago today, and significant weather phenomena prior to the tornado, all of which highlighted the vulnerability of residents living in manufactured and mobile homes county-wide. Preliminary county planning data indicates that thousands of Pulaski County residents reside in mobile and manufactured homes, structures widely recognized as among the most vulnerable during severe weather, straight line wind and tornado events.

County officials are currently evaluating a phased deployment model that would initially focus on the construction of smaller neighborhood-scale shelters strategically placed near populated rural community centers, parks, and other public gathering locations. Initial shelter concepts under consideration range from approximately 20 feet by 20 feet up to 40 feet by 40 feet in size, depending on site conditions, expected occupancy, and available grant funding.
Under the proposed plan, Phase I of the project would involve the submission of federal grant applications for engineering, planning, and procurement of a mobile concrete printing system.

Potential funding sources being explored include FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, and additional state emergency management and economic development opportunities.

County officials estimate that a mobile concrete printing system and supporting equipment and local training package could represent a significant investment; however, long-term savings may be realized through reduced contractor mobilization costs, accelerated disaster recovery operations, and the ability to manufacture county infrastructure in-house. In addition to storm shelters, the printer could potentially be used to construct retaining walls, culvert headwalls, park restroom facilities, utility buildings, hardened generator structures, and other public safety infrastructure.

Pulaski County officials have begun preliminary discussions with regional emergency management partners, engineering firms, educational institutions, and private-sector concrete printing vendors regarding the long-term feasibility of the project. The county is also evaluating potential partnerships with state and federal agencies to ensure that any shelter designs meet FEMA P-361 and ICC-500 standards for community tornado shelters.

Judge Executive Marshall Todd stated that the initiative reflects the county's continuing effort to improve disaster resilience and public safety. "Our goal is to identify innovative ways to better protect the people of Pulaski County before disaster strikes," Todd said. "If this technology proves feasible, it could allow us to strategically place hardened shelter locations throughout the county over time while also improving our ability to rapidly recover critical infrastructure after severe weather events."

Pulaski County Emergency Management Director Christopher J. Mason stated that the county intends to continue evaluating shelter placement needs, infrastructure demands, and long-term operational costs before making final recommendations to the Fiscal Court. "This is a long-term resilience project," Mason said. "We are examining how emerging construction technologies could help us protect vulnerable populations, improve disaster readiness, and strengthen the county's emergency response capabilities for decades to come."

05/15/2026

Good afternoon Pulaski County,

Just a quick heads up from US National Weather Service Jackson Kentucky. The MARGINAL RISK area for tomorrow’s forecasted ISOLATED severe thunderstorms has been expanded to include all of Pulaski County. As with any projected weather, information is subject to change rapidly. Please plan accordingly, have weather radios/cell phone applications turned on, emergency plans checked and supplies ready. Stay safe and weather aware out there.

05/14/2026

From Pulaski County Judge Executive Marshall Todd:

Somerset, Ky. (May 14, 2026) - Today we continue our discussions about the funding Pulaskı County received thanks to the Kentucky Legislature during the 2026 Regular Session through House Bill(HB) 900. As stated by Rep. Shane Baker, a part of our local Pulaski County delegation in Frankfort, HB 900 represents a continued effort by Kentucky lawmakers to make strategic investments in rural communities, ensuring they have the resources needed to thrive while preserving the character and strengths that make them unique.

The project we received funding for that I'm most proud of is something I've been promising for some time now. Pulaski County Government received $1.4 million for a Nancy Community Center. During the 2026 Regular Session, my office was in direct communication with our delegation in Frankfort, including Rep. Josh Branscum, and was able to acquire the funding for this community center.

There are some projects that simply add convenience to a community. Then there are projects that protect it, strengthen it, and help secure its future for generations to come. The proposed Nancy Community Center falls squarely into the second category.

At its heart, this facility is about people. It is about making sure families have somewhere safe to go when storms threaten our region. It is about ensuring elderly residents in western Pulaski County can connect with medical providers through telemedicine without the burden of long travel. It is about creating a place where neighbors gather in good times and lean on one another in difficult ones. For the people of Nancy and surrounding communities, this center represents security, preparedness, and hope.

Kentucky knows all too well the devastating power of severe weather. The "Super Outbreak" of 1974 left scars across this region and across the nation, taking lives and destroying homes throughout parts of southern Kentucky, including nearby counties. Since then, tornadoes, ice storms, floods, and other natural disasters have repeatedly reminded us that preparedness is not optional —it is essential. We were reminded of that a year ago in Pulaski County.

The Nancy Community Center will serve as a critical emergency resource for local, state, and national first responders and emergency management officials during natural disasters. In moments when every second matters, communities need reliable infrastructure that can provide shelter, coordination, communication, and care. This facility would stand ready to serve that purpose for Pulaski County.

But perhaps what makes this project especially meaningful is that it is designed not only for emergencies, but for everyday life. On one day, the building may serve as a warming center during dangerous winter weather. On another, it may host continuing education classes, senior activities, or provide telemedicine services for elderly residents unable to travel for routine healthcare appointments.

And in between those critical moments, it would simply be a place where community happens. Children playing on the playground. Families gathering for reunions. Neighbors shopping at a farmers market. Music festivals bringing people together on warm Kentucky evenings. Students, faculty, and staff from Nancy Elementary School utilizing the facility for educational and community functions. These moments may seem ordinary, but they are the very fabric that holds small towns together.

In rural communities where resources are often spread thin and distances can be challenging, partnerships and shared infrastructure matter tremendously. Most importantly, this center would send a powerful message. Rural communities deserve investment too. The people of Pulaski County are resilient. We have weathered storms, supported one another through hardships, and preserved the values that define Kentucky's small communities. The Nancy Community Center will honor that spirit by providing a facility built not only for today's needs, but for tomorrow's challenges.

Years from now, people may remember the building for the lives it protected during a storm. Others may remember the healthcare services that helped a loved one. Some will remember a festival, a family reunion, or a child's laughter on the playground. That is the true value of a community center. It is not simply a structure. It is a promise that no matter what we go through, this community will face it together. If you would like more details, as always, the Pulaski County Judge Executive's Office is open Monday through Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm. You can reach me by calling the office at (606)678-4853 or by sending me an email at [email protected]. God Bless you all and God Bless Pulaski County.