Kentucky

Kentucky counties can now receive federal assistance to recover from Hurricane Helene

A downed tree sits on a home on Arcadia Park, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 in Lexington, Ky. Rain and high winds from Hurricane Helene brought down trees all over the city.
A downed tree sits on a home on Arcadia Park, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 in Lexington, Ky. Rain and high winds from Hurricane Helene brought down trees all over the city. bsimms@herald-leader.com

Several Kentucky counties are eligible for federal funds to help recover from Hurricane Helena, which hit the state at the end of September.

Almost 15% of Kentucky households lost power due to the heavy wind and rain brought on by the hurricane. High water impacted several Kentucky roadways, and wind gusts of up to 65 mph hit the state, according to the National Weather Service.

The Federal Emergency Management Association, FEMA, announced this week that federal funding is available to state and local governments, plus some private nonprofit organizations, for emergency work, repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Helene.

That money is earmarked to help communities “recovering from major disasters” by “saving lives and protecting property.” Funds can be used to repair roads, bridges, water facilities, public buildings and utilities, parks and other facilities.

Counties eligible for the money are Anderson, Bath, Bell, Bourbon, Bracken, Breathitt, Carter, Clark, Clay, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Greenup, Harlan, Harrison, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Lee, Letcher, Lewis, Magoffin, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owsley, Powell, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Washington and Wolfe.

Statewide assistance is also available.

Kendall Staton
Lexington Herald-Leader
Kendall Staton is the City/County Reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader. She also helps with general news coverage, and previously covered UK HealthCare. She worked as the regional editor of three community newspapers in Central Kentucky before joining the Herald-Leader. She is a Greenup County native and 2023 University of Kentucky graduate. She first joined the Herald-Leader in April 2024. Support my work with a digital subscription
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