Kentucky Division of Emergency Management (KYEM)

Emergency Management shares the Governor's vision to, among other things, coordinate a system of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery and protect the lives, environment and property of the people of Kentucky.

We believe that the Commonwealth of Kentucky is one of the best places in the world to live. It is our goal to do everything we can to influence others by our actions to share that belief as well.

Kentucky Division of Emergency Management is a division of the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs and its role and function are goverened by legislative action as dictated in Chapter 39 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes, http://www.lrc.ky.gov/krs/titles.htm .

A State of Emergency was signed by the Governor on 4/16/08. Beginning on April 3, 2008, continuing through April 11, 2008, strong storms producing tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, flash flooding, mudslides, and flooding moved across the Commonwealth of Kentucky resulting in loss of life and personal injury, widespread damages, power outages, damages to public and private property and road closures. 

In a letter to the President, Governor Beshear has requested federal assistance be made available through the federal Public Assistance Grant Program and Small Business Adminstration to the impacted areas.

Governor Beshear said, "I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the Commonwealth and the affected local governments and that supplementary federal assistance is necessary."

Frankfort, Ky. - Governor Steven Beshear signed a proclamation declaring March as Severe Storms Preparedness Month across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Kentucky Division of Emergency Management, the Kentucky Weather Preparedness Committee and the National Weather Service offices that serve the state of Kentucky have all designated this month as a time for severe weather preparedness.

In conjunction with this proclamation, the annual state-wide "tornado drill" is scheduled for Tuesday, March 4th at 10:07 a.m. EDT.

Click the following link to download the Tornado Drill Survey Form.

Other Important Links:

• http://www.noaa.gov/
• National Weather Conditions
• Weather Alert Radio Codes
• Kentucky Severe Weather Information
• The New "EF" Tornado Scale