30 counties and 11 cities issued local states of emergency
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 4, 2015) — Gov. Steve Beshear has asked President Obama to issue a major disaster declaration and provide emergency assistance to individuals in Kentucky communities recovering from recent flooding.
Strong storms from July 11-20 caused heavy rain and flash flooding, which claimed lives, washed out roads and forced people from their homes in the affected communities. In his letter Beshear noted the four deaths attributed to the flash flood that destroyed the mountain community of Flat Gap in Johnson County.
The governor’s letter requests a major disaster declaration for individual assistance for the counties of Carter, Johnson, Rowan and Trimble.
“This (storm) system produced prolonged episodes of heavy rain, strong winds, hail, and isolated tornadoes which caused flooding, flash flooding, landslides, and mudslides,” Beshear wrote. “The impact of this weather has severely affected a large portion of the Commonwealth.”
“There were 30 counties and 11 cities that issued local states of emergency,” the letter notes. In addition to the recent request for individual assistance, the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have also been conducting joint damage assessments for public assistance in the impacted counties to determine federal eligibility.
Beshear issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency for all of Kentucky on July 13, 2015. The Commonwealth’s Emergency Operations Plan and the Commonwealth Emergency Operations Center were activated.
Beshear also issued an executive order prohibiting price gouging in the sale of goods and services in the Commonwealth, and implementing other provisions to protect Kentucky consumers.
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