KY HR84

Encourages development and construction of the East Kentucky Disaster Relief Center at Bear Mountain near Pikeville to provide rapid disaster response, supply distribution, and support for displaced individuals

Eight of ten U.S. counties with the highest number of federal major disaster declarations between 2011 and 2023 are located in Kentucky, making the region among the most disaster-impacted in the nation

Planned facility would include helicopter landing sites, RV hook-ups, a communication center, distribution facility, command center with emergency shelter space, and a clinic with basic first aid supplies

University of Pikeville will facilitate operation of the center in cooperation with local law enforcement and first responders

Aligns with the General Assembly's 2025 Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force recommendation to expand community resilience hubs