FEMA officer discusses emergency management, PeADD agency director announces retirement at meeting

FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Jeremy Slinker talked about emergency management, and Health and Family Services Director Jill Collins announced her upcoming retirement at Monday’s Pennyrile Area Development District meeting.

August marks National Emergency Management Awareness Month and emphasizes the vital role emergency managers have when it comes to preparing for and responding to natural disaster events. Western Kentucky has been impacted by heavy snow, floods and tornadoes so far in 2025.

Slinker is from Richmond and before joining FEMA he was the state’s emergency management director and also served as a Kentucky State Police trooper for 25 years. Slinker says the emergency management field is growing and becoming more recognized. He also calls the awareness month an opportunity to spotlight those that work behind the scenes.

Looking at current weather trends, Slinker says there is a chance that more citizens will be relying on emergency management offices when inclement weather arrives.

At the meeting, PeADD staff members provided department reports and during that time, Jill Collins the director of Heath and Family Services, formerly known as the Agency on Aging and Independent Living, announced her plans to retire. Collins has been a part of PeADD for around 21 years and says she looks forward to see what the agency will achieve in the future.

PeADD Executive Director Jason Vincent says Collins has been a regional and state leader when it comes to advocating for the well-being of senior citizens. Vincent also credits Collins for being a pillar of support when he became executive director around 11 years ago and says she will be missed.

Collins is set to retire in December.

Jeremy Slinker

Jill Collins