On Thursday, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman announced U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has signed a Secretarial Disaster Designation for 15 Kentucky counties, including Grayson County, to expand the resources available for agriculture producers as they rebuild operations after a series of tornadoes struck the commonwealth on December 10 and 11 and again on New Year’s Day.
The other 14 counties named in Secretarial Disaster Designation are Adair, Allen, Barren, Butler, Casey, Edmonson, Green, Hart, LaRue, Logan, Marion, Simpson, Taylor, and Warren.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released a new program for farmers to rebuild and repair permanent fencing through the Emergency Conservation Program at the Farm Service Agency.
Kentucky adding 20 percent to FEMA awards
Gov. Andy Beshear announced the state will add 20 percent on top of what FEMA awards in individual assistance for uninsured homeowners and renters impacted by the storms.
Approximately $1.4 million from the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund will go to more than 1,400 Kentuckians who are registered and qualify for FEMA benefits.
“This is a way we can quickly and clearly identify individuals who qualify for assistance and get the money out the door,” Beshear said.
Checks should go out within the next two weeks, officials said. The number of Kentuckians eligible to receive FEMA benefits and the extra 20 percent includes at least 475 uninsured homeowners and 987 uninsured renters.
Beshear said if Kentuckians have not signed up yet for individual assistance through FEMA and think they may qualify should apply now. The deadline is February 11.
(Photo: Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
