Oak Grove Mayor Jackie Oliver declared and signed a state of emergency for her city Monday afternoon, releasing a written statement following severe flooding that impacted the community over the last week.
Oliver said the decision came after ongoing concerns for safety and well-being of residents, and for the immediate need of coordinated emergency response efforts.
Oliver also said she wanted to make it clear that, “unfortunately, Oak Grove does not currently have available shelters for residents displaced by flooding.” She said her office is “actively working” to address the needs of the community, and that those in need of immediate shelter should seek assistance with St. John’s in Hopkinsville.
She confirmed that while the Oak Grove Community Center is, and will continue to be, an essential part of the city, it is not officially designated as an emergency shelter. There is a serious lack of necessary bedding, food and proper facilities to maintain it as such, and it cannot accommodate families in this capacity.
She further noted it is intended for “community events and gatherings, not for emergency shelter operations.”
She also confirmed that Oak Grove and its families are experiencing “hardship and stress” in this situation, and that she is working closely with local emergency services, neighboring communities and organizations for support and resources where possible.
Most of Christian County received nearly 14 inches of rain between Wednesday, April 2, and Sunday, April 6.
