Federal funding now available in seven counties
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 1, 2015) — Gov. Steve Beshear announced today that residents of Breathitt, Fleming and Perry counties are now eligible to apply for individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency from damage as a result of July severe storms and flooding. Federal funding was already available to affected individuals Carter, Johnson, Rowan and Trimble counties.
“This is good news for residents of Breathitt, Fleming and Perry Counties as they work to recover from these devastating storms,” Beshear said. “Our emergency management officials have worked hard to document damage and help in recovery efforts. I encourage citizens in the eligible counties to register with FEMA.”
People in the specified counties who need assistance can apply with FEMA online at: http://www.fema.gov/apply-assistance or by calling 1-800-621-3362. 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.
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. Four deaths have been attributed to the flash flood in the mountain community of Flat Gap in Johnson County.
Breathitt, Fleming and Perry counties were already on the list of those eligible for public assistance. In those counties, federal funding is available to 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, tornadoes, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides in a total of 34 counties. The other counties are Bracken, Carroll, Carter, Clay, Cumberland, Elliott, Estill, Floyd, Henry, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, Magoffin, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owsley, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Spencer, Trimble, Washington and Wolfe.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the entire state.
“This is a very positive outcome,” Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett said. “The incorporation of Breathitt, Perry and Fleming counties immediately makes available federal resources to impacted citizens for their long-term recovery efforts.”
Beshear issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency for all of Kentucky on July 13. The Commonwealth’s Emergency Operations Plan and the Commonwealth Emergency Operations Center were activated.
During the disaster, 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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