Twenty-seven Kentucky counties struck by severe weather earlier this year received a federal disaster declaration on Friday.
President Donald J. Trump issued a declaration stating that a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides from February 3 to February 29, 2020.
The disaster declaration means federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides.
“We are thankful to receive this declaration to further assist Kentucky counties impacted by the widespread severe weather and historical flooding earlier this year,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “This declaration comes at a time when we are all fighting against COVID-19, and whether we are working to repair and rebuild from flooding or the impact of this virus, I know as Kentuckians we will get through this and we will get through this together.”
The areas covered under Friday’s declaration are: Bell, Boyd, Butler, Clay, Harlan, Henderson, Hickman, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Lawrence, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Magoffin, McCracken, McCreary, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Union, and Whitley counties.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the entire state.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by Kentucky officials and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
Gov. Andy Beshear issued a state of emergency on Feb. 7 is response to the first wave of flooding and simultaneously issued an executive order activating Kentucky’s price-gouging laws for a 30-day period.
The state also provided several million dollars in grants and other funding to aid local government for clean-up and repairs.
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Written by Tom Latek. Cross-posted from Kentucky Today.