Beshear declares state of emergency in 12 Kentucky counties | Lexington Herald Leader

FRANKFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear declared a state of emergency Friday in 12 Kentucky counties that suffered flooding and other damage from severe storms over the past two weeks.

The counties, mostly in Eastern Kentucky, are Bell, Clay, Crittenden, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Lee, Leslie, Owsley, Rockcastle and Whitley. The strong system of storms began April 15, Beshear said.

Federal and state emergency officials will begin collecting estimates of damage caused by the storms. That information will be turned over to federal officials to determine whether local and state governments could be eligible for federal disaster assistance.

Beshear encouraged residents to contact local emergency management officials if they have suffered storm damage. A list of emergency management officials can be found at the Kentucky Department of Emergency Management website at http://kyem.ky.gov/sitecontacts/Documents/County%20EM%20Directors.pdf.