(LEX 18) — President Joe Biden has approved of Kentucky's disaster declaration, the White House announced on Wednesday.
"Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and ordered federal assistance to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe winter storms, landslides, and mudslides from February 8 to February 19, 2021," The White House said in a statement.
Federal funding is available to commonwealth 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 winter storms.
The funding is available in the following counties: Bath, Boyd, Boyle, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Garrard, Greenup, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Magoffin, Marion, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Nelson, Owsley, Perry, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Wayne, Whitley, and Wolfe.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Program will provide funding to eligible applicants for allowable costs associated with debris removal, emergency protective actions and restoration of impacted infrastructure, Gov. Andy Beshear's office said in a release issued Thursday.
In addition, all areas in Kentucky are eligible for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides assistance for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.
Beshear will submit an application for a second federal disaster declaration to address record flooding across the commonwealth.
FEMA has completed damage assessments of over 2,100 homes examining requests for federal support of individual assistance.
The governor's application will be sent after FEMA concludes the last phase of reviewing damage assessments for impacts to over 40 county infrastructures.
