Grayson County Emergency Management to apply for grant to install 12 tornado shelters

By Ken Howlett, News Director at K105

GRAYSON COUNTY, Ky. (K105) – Grayson County could have a dozen tornado shelters pending FEMA’s decision to award a grant, according to a report by K105.

The report states that on Thursday during a Grayson County Fiscal Court meeting, Grayson County Emergency Management Deputy Director Blake Schroerlucke “formally requested magistrates approve GCEM applying for a partially matching $426,000 FEMA grant to install 12 tornado shelters in the county.”

“I got with Blake and (GCEM Director) Carey Sims probably about a year ago, I guess, and told them I want tornado shelters all over the county,” Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson said.

According to K105, Henderson stated GCEM is now able to apply for the grant after waiting out a federal government shutdown.

Schroerlucke says he told magistrates the shelters, capable of holding 25 people, have electricity and a concrete pad and would be installed at fire departments and other areas around Grayson County, according to K105.

The FEMA grant is a 75/25 matching grant, K105 states, which would mean FEMA pays 75% of the cost of the construction while the county would pay 25%.

According to K105, magistrates approved this request unanimously.