Biden declares disaster emergency for Kentucky flooding. Here’s what it means.
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Flooding in Eastern Kentucky
“Catastrophic” flash flooding hit parts of Eastern Kentucky July 28, 2022.
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President Joe Biden declared a disaster in Kentucky on Friday as a result of the deadly flooding that has pummeled the eastern part of the commonwealth.
The presidential declaration will unleash a stream of federal relief funding for 13 affected counties that have been hit by severe storms, causing flooding, landslides and mudslides and has taken the lives of at least 16 people.
The counties currently eligible for funding are: Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike, and Wolfe.
“This is great, much-needed news for eastern Kentucky,” Gov. Andy Beshear tweeted Friday morning. “This federal funding is critical for our recovery efforts and Kentuckians impacted by the historic flooding.”
More areas could eventually qualify as the Federal Emergency Management Agency performs damage assessments.
The declaration from the White House is important because it will allow local government entities and nonprofit organizations to provide relief with the comfort of knowing the federal government will reimburse them for a large portion of eligible expenses, in some cases up to two-thirds of the total cost.
“This declaration is narrowly focused on emergency measures for governments,” said Daniel Kaniewski, a former FEMA deputy administrator and current managing director at Marsh McLennan. “Based on the damage I’ve seen via media reporting it will likely be expanded to a broader declaration that could include reimbursement for damage to public infrastructure and assistance for uninsured disaster survivors. Also potentially additional counties. FEMA can add these additional types of assistance and counties, pending the outcome of preliminary damage assessments.”
Excessive rain over several days blocked roads, washed out bridges and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses. More than 20,000 Kentuckians remain without power Friday. Dozens have already been rescued by boat and helicopter.
FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell, who visited with Kentucky Emergency Management officials Friday morning, has named Brett Howard as the pointman for Kentucky’s recovery efforts. Criswell was set to tour the damage via helicopter with Gov. Beshear, but dangerous weather will likely scrap that plan.
Rep. Hal Rogers helped initiate the disaster relief request along with Beshear.
“Our mountain region was hit hard,” Rogers said in a statement. “In the midst of devastating storms like this, our first responders face daunting search and rescue efforts. I deeply appreciate the heroic work of our Kentucky National Guard and our first responders who have been responding across county lines to help move our folks to safe ground.”
Shelters have been set up to accommodate those who lost their homes or can’t currently occupy them. They include the First Presbyterian Church and Gospel Light Church in Perry County, the Eastern Kentucky Dream Center and Valley Elementary School in Pike County, the Jenny Wiley Resort Park in Floyd County and the courthouse and Lee’s College Gym in Breathitt County.
Clothing and food are available at the EKY Dream Center Thrift Store in Pikeville.
For those who want to help, donations can be made to Appalachian Crisis Aid and EKY Mutual Aid.
This story was originally published July 29, 2022 at 11:24 AM with the headline "Biden declares disaster emergency for Kentucky flooding. Here’s what it means.."
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