Five days after tornadoes hit, Kentucky survivors ask: Where’s FEMA?
Five days after deadly tornadoes ripped through southern Kentucky killing at least 19 people and injuring dozens more, the federal government has still not arrived.
Gov. Andy Beshear has asked for an emergency declaration from President Donald Trump, which would trigger Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA assistance.
That FEMA assistance can help pay for damages to personal and government property. But more importantly, it brings FEMA personnel immediately into affected areas. They can help provide such necessities as tarps for buildings that may still be livable but have some roof or other structural damage.
Beshear spoke to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Saturday almost immediately after the storms hit.
“They vowed to help,” Beshear said Saturday. “They showed real empathy for our people.”
At a news conference Tuesday, Beshear said they have put together an application for FEMA assistance. State officials say they’re confident the state has met the financial thresholds for federal assistance.
Beshear also encouraged people to contact insurance companies first and to document and photograph all losses.
“We have not yet been approved for disaster assistance,” he said.
The governor cautioned people not to apply to FEMA now because they have not received a national declaration. “If you apply now, you will be denied,” he said.
The state will notify people when and if FEMA assistance is approved, he said.
“Take the help that’s out there,” Beshear said. “Talk to our state-run programs. We are working as hard and fast as we can to get FEMA here.”
Beshear said President Donald Trump also called him on Saturday. Beshear said Kentucky’s senators and US House representatives also have supported the state’s request for federal assistance.
Beshear said they are bringing in 90 trailers to provide intermediate housing soon. Those trailers will be set up at Levi Jackson State Park.
Kentucky Emergency Management Director Eric Gibson said 900 people are in shelters -- state parks, hotels and motels, shelters and short-term rentals including Airbnb, which has donated nights for those who need a place to stay.
So who is helping?
Meanwhile, people in Laurel and Pulaski counties are relying on the help of city, counties, state officials, neighbors and volunteers to clean up after the deadly Friday night storms.
Many homeowners said they are confused. They thought FEMA would be there to help.
On Monday, Doris Hensley shifted through what remained of her Laurel County home where she has lived for 30 years. She and others in Laurel said they are confused what to do next.
Trump has acted quickly on other two other Kentucky requests for emergency declarations that triggered FEMA help.
During the April flooding that killed seven people in Kentucky, Trump signed a disaster declaration on April 4 prior to brunt of the flash flooding that came over the next several days.
During February flooding that killed 22 people, Trump signed the emergency declaration on Feb. 16, allowing FEMA assistance.
Kentucky is not the only state still waiting for federal assistance.
The same set of storms killed at least five people in Missouri. St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer told MSNBC news on Monday that FEMA has not been activated there.
FEMA officials were expected to be in Missouri on Wednesday to assess damage that could lead to an emergency declaration, according to St. Louis Public Radio.
Yet the sluggish response could be an indication the federal government wants states to take over costly cleanups after national disasters.
In April, FEMA rejected North Carolina’s application for an aid extension as the state is still trying to rebuild and recover from Hurricane Helene which killed 250 people and bulldozed infrastructure, homes and businesses in September.
This story was originally published May 20, 2025 at 12:41 PM.
