As Tuesday morning’s Christian County Fiscal Court meeting came to a close, Magistrate JE Pryor received a text message — an image of a truck, a trailer and its driver all stuck waist deep in lingering flood waters along Millers Mill Road near Oak Grove.
The picture arrived to his phone no less than 30 minutes after Christian County Emergency Management Director Randy Graham had updated the governing body on the post-flooding progress in the community — following April 3-6 storms that brought more than 13 inches of rain to the region.
Now two weeks removed from the deluge, Graham said gains have been made on a number of recovery fronts — but much remains in the works, especially if President Donald Trump expectantly signs a federal natural disaster declaration that has already been forwarded to him by local, regional and state authorities.
Pumping efforts near the Windmill subdivision, Graham said, are going well, as are measures near Derby Park in Oak Grove — which began around 6:30 PM Saturday.
Graham said more than 200 structures received varying degrees of flooding and storm damage, with at least 75 described to have “major damage,” and 35 businesses are now reporting some type of issue.
Graham also said several home- and business owners have already received denials for FEMA claims, but only because the federal declaration hasn’t been issued.
Christian County’s Long-Term Recovery Group, Graham added, has been reactivated, and any unmet needs in the community are not going unheard.
Several local and regional churches — alongside local, regional and national non-profits — are still providing meals to displaced citizens and families, and Graham said those efforts will continue in stages until it is no longer necessary.
This includes Team Rubicon, as well as a Lutheran group feeding residents of Donna Drive.
Those still in need can call Christian County Emergency Management at (270) 887-6253.
