Southern Kentucky

Building preparedness, self-sufficiency, and community resilience across rural Southern Kentucky.

Serving Pulaski, Laurel, Rockcastle, Clay, McCreary, Whitley, Wayne, Casey, and surrounding counties.
Southern KY Office serves as our CORPORATE office as well.

About the Southern Kentucky Chapter

The National Preparedness Network Southern Kentucky Chapter was established to strengthen preparedness, food security, and self-sufficiency across rural Appalachian and South-Central Kentucky communities. This region faces persistent challenges including food access gaps, limited emergency infrastructure, economic strain, and geographic isolation that complicate disaster response and long-term resilience.

Our chapter works at the intersection of preparedness education, food resilience, skills development, and community collaboration. We focus on practical, hands-on programs that empower families, churches, schools, and local organizations to become more self-reliant and better equipped to face emergencies, economic disruption, and environmental challenges.

As part of the National Preparedness Network, we operate under a unified mission, governance structure, and ethical framework to ensure accountability, impact, and long-term sustainability.

Coverage Area

The Southern Kentucky Chapter serves residents and communities in:

Pulaski County (Somerset and surrounding areas)
Laurel County
Rockcastle County
Clay County
McCreary County
Whitley County
Wayne County
Casey County
Additional surrounding rural communities by request

If your community is near these areas and interested in partnering, we encourage you to reach out.

Local Programs & Initiatives

Preparedness Education

Four Pillars of Preparedness courses and workshops
Basic emergency readiness training for families and seniors
Community preparedness seminars for churches, schools, and civic groups
Free Business Consultations

Community Outreach & Support

Rural outreach events
Youth education initiatives
Community cleanups and beautification projects
Support for underserved and high-need households

Food & Resilience Projects

Community and church-based gardens
Food preservation and storage education
Seasonal growing and homesteading skills workshops
Support for local food access and nutrition resilience

Appalachian Roots Programming

Traditional skills preservation
Herbal education and natural wellness training
Animal care and small livestock education
Land-based resilience projects

Special Initiatives

Disaster preparedness support and response coordination
Pilot projects in high-need rural communities
Partner-driven resilience initiatives

Volunteer Opportunities

We are actively seeking volunteers across Southern Kentucky for:

Community outreach and engagement
Garden build and maintenance teams
Event and workshop support
Education assistants and facilitators
Logistics, transport, and setup crews
Administrative and coordination support

Whether you can help one day a month or weekly, there is a role for you.

Partner With the Southern Kentucky Chapter

We partner with:

Churches and faith-based organizations
Schools and youth programs
Local nonprofits and community groups
Landowners and farmers
Small businesses and civic organizations
County and municipal agencies

Partnerships may include:

Land access for gardens and projects
Joint programming and events
Sponsorships and in-kind donations
Educational collaboration
Community improvement initiatives

Current Partners

The Southern Kentucky Chapter operates under the governance, policies, and oversight of the National Preparedness Network (501c3). All programs, branding, and activities are conducted in alignment with NPN bylaws, ethics standards, and organizational policies.