Caldwell County Emergency Manager Joey McCaslin says a Trigg County couple has played a significant role in the aftermath of the December 10 tornado that ravaged Princeton and the county.
At the fiscal court meeting Tuesday morning, McCaslin said they have worked with Paula and James Flood for years and they have provided a lot of help the last two weeks.
Meanwhile, James Flood tells the News Edge the EF-4 tornado that hit Princeton and Caldwell County at 10:12 on the night of December 10 damaged or destroyed over 300 structures.
In addition, he said the University of Kentucky Farm Center was destroyed with the exception of a lone farmhouse causing estimated damage in excess of $40 million.
Mr. Flood said Caldwell County Emergency Manager, Joey McCaslin, spearheaded the response shortly after the 20-30 second tornado touchdown. He added that in the first of many Emergency Operations Center (EOC) meetings, response and future plans were coordinated for all the needs with the city, county, and emergency response personnel. Along with McCaslin, Flood said agencies involved in the planning and response were Caldwell County Judge-Executive Larry Curling, Princeton Mayor Kota Young, Caldwell County Road Department, Princeton Public Works, Pennyrile Central, Public Health, Princeton Fire Rescue, Caldwell County Medical Center, ComCare (EMS), Caldwell County Coroner Dewayne Trafford, Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, Princeton Police Department, Princeton Electric Plant Board, Kentucky Utilities, Pennyrile Electric, and Kentucky National Guard. He also said public information with WPKY embodied faster communications.
Flood said the agencies sent to assist individuals are located at the Butler Building at 600 West Main Street in Princeton and have representatives available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Those agencies include FEMA, Small Business Administration, American Red Cross, and Mental Health. He said these agencies are scheduled to be in Princeton until February 11, 2022.
In addition, Flood said Judge Curling has appointed Stacey Menser to work as the housing coordinator and she can be contacted by calling (270) 963-3574.
