Governor Beshear Asks Obama Administration For Individual Assistance For Kentuckians Devastated By Winter Storm

March 10, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has asked President Obama’s administration to approve individual assistance for qualifying Kentucky residents who suffered severe damages to their homes and property in the January winter storm.

Gov. Beshear has sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requesting individual assistance for the following counties: Allen, Anderson, Ballard, Barren, Bath, Boone, Bourbon, Boyd, Boyle, Breathitt, Breckinridge, Bracken, Bullitt, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Campbell, Carlisle, Carroll, Casey, Carter, Christian, Clark, Clay, Crittenden, Daviess, Edmonson, Elliott, Estill Fayette, Fleming, Floyd, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Garrard, Grant, Graves, Grayson, Green, Greenup, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Hart, Henderson, Henry, Hickman, Hopkins, Jackson, Jefferson, Jessamine, Johnson, Kenton, Larue Lawrence, Lee, Lewis, Lincoln, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Madison, Magoffin, Marion, Marshall, Martin, Mason, McCracken, McLean, Meade, Menifee, Mercer, Metcalfe, Montgomery, Morgan, Muhlenberg, Nelson, Nicholas, Ohio, Oldham, Owen, Owsley, Perry, Powell, Pendleton, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Scott, Shelby, Simpson, Spencer, Taylor, Todd, Trimble, Trigg, Union, Warren, Washington, Webster, Wolfe and Woodford.

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“The threshold for receiving individual assistance is quite high and it’s apparently unusual for the federal government to provide this form of assistance,” said Gov. Beshear. “But we’re determined to pursue every avenue of potential relief on behalf of Kentuckians impacted by this horrific storm.”

Gov. Beshear’s request is primarily based on the concentration of damages, but also because the extended nature of this disaster proved to be beyond the resources and capability of the local government and the state. During the devastating storms that first struck the commonwealth on Jan. 27, a total of 26 homes suffered severe damages, while another 30 were reportedly destroyed. Thirty-six Kentucky fatalities were determined to be storm related.

Today, Gov. Beshear received word from the federal government that 100 Kentucky counties are now eligible for public assistance for emergency work performed after the winter storm, such as debris removal and emergency protective measures. These counties may also be eligible for reimbursement for permanent work necessitated by the storm, such as repairs to road systems and bridges; water control facilities; buildings, contents and equipment repairs; utilities; and parks, recreational and other expenses. These seven categories include the majority of costs to local governments primarily incurred by public utilities as they removed debris and restored power lines. The estimated recovery cost to state and local governments has grown to more than $215 million.

On Feb. 2, Gov. Beshear requested President Obama declare Kentucky a major disaster area. President Obama granted Gov. Beshear’s request on Feb. 5. Also on Feb. 2, Gov. Beshear requested 100 percent reimbursement for disaster recovery related expenses incurred during the first seven days following the winter storm. That request is still pending.

In a separate Feb. 2 request, Gov. Beshear also asked President Barack Obama for the National Guard to be placed on federal status, allowing for expenses incurred, such as payroll, to be paid for by the federal government. During a visit to Kentucky last month, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano cited the severity of the storm as the motivation behind the federal government’s assumption of these costs, which are typically paid for by the state. At the height of the storm, Gov. Beshear deployed all of Kentucky’s National Guard troops—over 4,000—to help with storm assessment and cleanup. This marked the largest, single guard deployment in Kentucky history.

Source: Kentucky Governor