How will Kentucky governor candidates aid communities recovering from disaster?
In the past three years, a pair of deadly natural disasters ripped through rural communities on both ends of the state. The recovery process for the damaged cities, towns and counties in western and Eastern Kentucky is still ongoing.
Whether current Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear or his Republican challenger, Attorney General Daniel Cameron, occupies the governor’s mansion in January, they’ll have to help shepherd ongoing recovery efforts in hard-hit counties.
Depopulation in rural communities is a nationwide concern. The population of the 13 Eastern Kentucky counties impacted by deadly flooding in July 2022 has dropped 16% since 1996 — nearly 2,000 people per year, a recent study published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, showed.
The floods damaged almost 9,000 homes, deepening a housing crisis that already existed in the region. Housing experts have previously called on the state legislature to designate more money specifically for housing.
The Herald-Leader asked the candidates about the issue. These were there responses.
Q: How would you work to slow out-migration from rural, disaster-impacted communities, and would more money for housing be part of your plan?
Cameron: Rural areas face unique challenges in rebuilding after a disaster. We have federal and state funds and we need to make sure we rebuild as quickly as possible. My running mate, Robby Mills, was one of the lead architects of the Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund. The rebuild goes beyond brick and mortar. We must tend to the education, safety, and economic needs of rural areas, too.
I am the only candidate in this race with concrete plans to improve our state and make it more attractive for people to stay here. Under my plans, we will eliminate the income tax, improve our schools, and make our streets safe again. The plans offered by Andy Beshear and Joe Biden look like this: soaring inflation, higher gas prices, and an ever-growing welfare state that pays able-bodied workers to sit at home.
Beshear: Kentucky has been through a lot these last four years, with historic flooding and devastating tornadoes. When these disasters hit, my administration didn’t just show up on Day 1, but every day after to make sure Kentucky families have the resources they need to recover and rebuild. We’ve already secured $1.2 billion in disaster relief, and have seen real progress towards recovery. I recently handed over the keys to the 100th rebuilt home in Western Kentucky, and we have announced plans for roughly 200 new homes to be built in Eastern Kentucky in high ground communities. We’re not just working to rebuild houses, but entire communities so that no family has to leave their community behind. There is more work to be done, and I will continue working with officials at every level of government and our partners across Kentucky to keep bringing more resources to disaster-affected areas.
Beshear touts higher ground communities, relief money
Shortly after the 2021 tornadoes and the 2022 floods, Beshear signed executive orders authorizing the creation of the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief and Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief funds.
The funds, both of which attracted millions and are managed by the Public Protection Cabinet, allowed donors to quickly send funds to help Kentuckians with immediate disaster costs like funeral expenses.
The use of those funds hasn’t been without issue. In February, Herald-Leader reporting revealed that thousands of dollars donated to the tornado relief fund were sent to people unaffected by the tornadoes. Then in July, Republican state Auditor Mike Harmon’s office announced an audit of the disaster funds. Beshear called the audit “grossly political” and said his administration’s handling of the funds was fully transparent.
Since December, Beshear has announced several different plans to build higher ground homes and neighborhoods in the Eastern Kentucky counties hardest hit by flooding. A combination of private philanthropy, state legislature-approved money and large federal disaster grants will likely fuel the developments. While construction has started in some locations and some homes are built, it will take years to complete the full projects.
Cameron points to disaster delays, running mate
Following both of Kentucky’s most recent natural disasters, Cameron used the Attorney General’s Office to warn afflicted residents of fraudsters posing as relief organizations or contractors. The office provided a reporting mechanism for those worried they were getting scammed.
Sen. Robby Mills R-Henderson, Cameron’s running mate, represents some of the hard-hit counties in Western Kentucky. Mills has also been critical of the handling of the donated relief money.
When asked about rural population decline in the Western Kentucky’s Purchase Region at a recent debate in Paducah, Cameron said Beshear’s record on schools and crime hasn’t helped.
On disaster recovery, Cameron has been critical of the speed of the process. In August, he told the Associated Press efforts weren’t moving fast enough in Mayfield, a town which took a direct hit from an EF-4 tornado.
“Look at Mayfield, and there are still buildings that aren’t back up,” he said. “It’s been a long time.”