The State of Kentucky is making $123 million in federal funding available to assist with the ongoing recovery from tornadoes that devastated 126 homes in Warren County nearly three years ago.
The funds are provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program and administered by the Kentucky Department for Local Government (DLG). According to the DLG’s website, the CDBG-DR Program works to rebuild areas affected by natural disasters.
CDBG-DR funding can be used for long-term recovery projects such as housing, rebuilding the local economy, and restoring infrastructure. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear told ABC affiliate WHAS11 that $9,562,376 will go toward building 126 affordable single-family homes and two duplexes in Warren County, predominantly in Bowling Green.
“Today marks another milestone in our Western Kentucky tornado recovery efforts,” Beshear said. “Housing has remained a top priority in those efforts, and today we’re taking a major step toward getting more Kentuckians into permanent housing. We promised to be there for the long haul, and we’re keeping our promise.”
Bowling Green is expected to partner with Habitat for Humanity Bowling Green/Warren County, to use $5 million to build 116 single-family homes to be sold to income-eligible tornado survivors.
“We are very excited about this new grant announcement of $5 million to Habitat for Humanity, leading to affordable homes in our community,” Bowling Green Mayor Todd Alcott told WHAS11. “More importantly, it’s going to lead to homeownership. The aftermath of the tornado is in our past, but our future is bright.”
Additionally, the Warren County Fiscal Court and Live the Dream Development Inc. are expected to use $4,562,376 to build 10 single-family houses and two duplexes just outside of Bowling Green.
“Attainable housing is one of our greatest needs, and this will help us,” said Warren County Deputy Judge/Executive Bryan Downing. “We thank the Department for Local Government, this program, and Governor, you and your team, for allowing this to happen.”
GPRS Can Assess Damage After a Natural Disaster
From tornadoes and earthquakes to hurricanes and tropical storms, natural disasters cause extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure.
Buildings and sites can be full of potential safety hazards. Buildings shift, structural integrity is compromised, pipes are damaged, and concrete can develop voids.
A rapid, detailed, and precise infrastructure assessment is crucial after a natural disaster to capture a comprehensive and clear picture of the damage. GPRS can efficiently gather data and evaluate your building or site using the following scanning and mapping services:
3D Laser Scanning
The physical damage to buildings and infrastructure (e.g., residential buildings, commercial buildings, roads) can be documented using 3D laser scanning. This technology captures every point of the building or site, mapping it onto an XYZ coordinate system for intelligent visualization, eliminating guesswork from decision-making. Critical information on existing conditions helps contractors and engineers expedite construction planning by using real-world building data as the foundation.
Utility Locating
Utility locating is crucial for any construction project involving subsurface excavation after a natural disaster. GPRS employs state-of-the-art technology to deliver the most accurate and comprehensive information and mapping for water lines, gas lines, sanitary sewer lines, storm sewers, electrical lines, telecommunications, irrigation lines, abandoned lines, and underground storage tanks. GPRS also provides a complimentary .KMZ file and PDF for every outdoor utility location we perform.
Video Pipe Inspection
Video pipe inspection (VPI) is a sewer inspection service utilizing industry-leading video cameras to identify problems by inspecting underground water, sewer lines, and lateral pipelines. GPRS' NASSCO-certified Project Managers can locate clogs, investigate cross bores, identify structural faults and damage, and perform lateral sewer line inspections.
Concrete Scanning
Given the risks associated with concrete drilling, GPRS Project Managers utilize multiple technologies to ensure safe areas for core drilling and anchoring. Our scanning and imaging services can be performed on any surface, including concrete slabs, walls, columns, and beams. After completing the scanning process, you'll have a clear layout of critical impediments such as post-tension cables, rebar, beams, and conduits.
Identify Subsurface Voids
Identifying concealed subsurface voids is crucial to prevent major failures after a natural disaster. Voids beneath roadways and concrete pose serious hazards, making it essential to detect their existence, location, and size. GPR technology has advanced to the point where subsurface conditions of roadways and concrete can be confidently diagnosed. Early detection of voids with GPR can prevent safety hazards such as structural collapse of concrete, roadway failures, and disjointed storm pipes.
GPRS can be your first step in rebuilding after a natural disaster. We offer rapid response to your job sites, often within 24 hours. With over 500 highly trained Project Managers strategically stationed across every major market in the U.S., we can commit to any project at any location. Our approach ensures quality data that is virtual, cataloged, and secure.
Proper assessment and documentation of damage are crucial. Call GPRS today for a full inspection and damage assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can GPR differentiate between different objects embedded within concrete?
Ground penetrating radar (GPR) can usually differentiate between rebar, electrical conduit, post tension cables, rebar, and other objects that may be embedded within your concrete slab.
In addition to GPR, GPRS’ SIM-certified Project Managers can use electromagnetic (EM) locators to determine the location of conduits in the concrete. If we can transmit a signal onto the metal conduit, we can locate it with pinpoint accuracy. We can also find the conduit passively if a live electrical current runs through it.
What type of informational output is provided when GPRS conducts a utility locate?
Our Project Managers flag and paint our findings directly on the surface. This method of communication is the most accurate form of marking when excavation is expected to commence within a few days of service.
GPRS also uses a global positioning system (GPS) to collect data points of findings. We use this data to generate a plan, KMZ file, satellite overlay, or CAD file to permanently preserve results for future use. GPRS does not provide land surveying services. If you need land surveying services, please contact a professional land surveyor. Please contact us to discuss the pricing and marking options your project may require.
