FEMA, Small Business Adm. disperse nearly $100 million after western Ky. tornadoes

September 9, 2022 State News
mayfield-tornado-damage
mayfield-tornado-damage

Nearly $100 million in federal money has been dispersed to western Kentucky residents and businesses impacted by the December 2021 tornado outbreak, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Wednesday.

Nine months after the federal disaster declaration for Kentucky following the December 10 and 11 tornadoes, more than $95.7 million in federal assistance has been provided by FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration to support disaster recovery, officials said.

That figure, FEMA said, includes more than $15.8 million in housing assistance and other essential disaster-related needs and more than $59.3 million in SBA low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses.

FEMA Individual Assistance

Sixteen counties were designated for federal assistance under FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program: Barren, Caldwell, Christian, Fulton, Graves, Hart, Hickman, Hopkins, Logan, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Taylor and Warren.

  • More than $15.8 approved for individuals and households, including:
    • Nearly $11.5 million approved for Housing Assistance
    • Nearly $4.4 million approved for Other Needs Assistance, which helps to replace essential household items and other critical disaster-related needs

Direct Temporary Housing

Currently, 80 families are participating in FEMA’s Direct Temporary Housing program in six designated counties: Caldwell, Graves, Hopkins, Marshall, Muhlenberg, and Warren.

Twelve families have moved out of FEMA’s Direct Temporary Housing and into their permanent housing.

U.S. Small Business Administration

  • 647 disaster loans approved for homeowners, renters, and businesses for nearly $59.4 million.
    • More than.
    • $50.2 million in home loans (585)
    • Nearly $9.2 million in business loans (62)

Interagency Recovery Coordination

Community Planning Capacity Building teams are still actively engaged in western Kentucky, specifically the city of Mayfield and Graves and Fulton counties to identify long-term recovery needs.

The Interagency Recovery Coordination team has held two in-person economic workshops, and three virtual economic workshops targeting small businesses, according to FEMA. They also have held two disaster housing recovery fairs where they brought over 25 service providers together to assist survivors.

(Photo: Tornado damage in Mayfield)

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com