President Biden arrives in Lexington before tour of Eastern Kentucky flood damage

President Joe Biden landed at Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport Monday morning to begin his tour of Kentucky after historic flooding caused catastrophic damage and dozens of deaths in parts of Eastern Kentucky.

Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrived on Air Force One around 10:40 a.m. Monday to meet Gov. Andy Beshear and his wife, Britainy. The four were set to spend Monday touring hard-hit areas in Eastern Kentucky. The Bidens were greeted by Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton when they arrived to the airport.

Biden left the Lexington airport via helicopter just after 11 a.m. to begin his tour in Eastern Kentucky.

Biden’s trip to Eastern Kentucky is his second visit to the commonwealth in the face of catastrophic natural disasters. He toured Western Kentucky in December following a series of tornadoes that left dozens dead. The Federal Emergency Management Agency offered assistance to residents following those tornadoes.

FEMA is also offering assistance to those who were impacted by the floods and are eligible to receive help.

The flooding started in late July and left dozens dead while also causing massive property damage. The state has reported 37 fatalities. The floodwaters heavily damaged homes, businesses and bridges.

This developing story will be updated with more information.

This story was originally published August 8, 2022 at 10:47 AM.