Pres. Joe Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for areas of Kentucky affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, landslides and mudslides from May 21-27.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) the president’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in 15 Kentucky counties: Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Christian, Clay, Greenup, Hopkins, Knox, Logan, Muhlenberg, Simpson, Todd, Trigg, Warren and Whitley.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
In addition, federal funding is also available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations in 55 Kentucky counties on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities damaged by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, landslides and mudslides.
This includes Adair, Allen, Ballard, Barren, Breckinridge, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Crittenden, Cumberland, Edmonson, Estill, Fulton, Garrard, Graves, Grayson, Green, Hart, Hickman, Hopkins, Jackson, Knox, Larue, Laurel, Lee, Leslie, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, McCreary, McLean, Meade, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Owsley, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Simpson, Todd, Trigg, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Whitley and Woodford counties.
Federal funding is available as well on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
“We are once again thankful to President Biden and his administration for approving this funding. This support will be a big help for our families as they recover and rebuild from yet another terrible storm,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “As always, we saw our first responders and everyday Kentuckians rally to help each other in those toughest of moments, and that is why I am so proud to be governor of this great commonwealth.”
Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can now begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA App. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.
At the time, Beshear said five Kentuckians were killed by the severe weather outbreak and the National Weather confirmed 13 tornadoes during Sunday, May 26 and Monday, May 27. Twenty six counties and 12 cities to declare local states of emergency, while Gov. Andy Beshear issued one for the entire state, and another to activate Kentucky’s ban on price-gouging.
There is no word yet as to when and where FEMA will open disaster recovery centers for Kentuckians affected by the May 21-27 severe weather.
By Tom Latek, Kentucky Today
