Bowling Green Today

On May 6, 2024, Kentucky's federal delegation, which includes U.S. Senator Rand Paul, U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and Representatives Hal Rogers (KY-05), Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Andy Barr (KY-06), James Comer (KY-01), and Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), penned a letter to President Joe Biden. In this correspondence, they expressed their backing for Governor Andy Beshear’s request for a major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Kentucky due to severe weather in April.

The Commonwealth was battered by severe wind, thunderstorms, mudslides, and flooding. Additionally, over a dozen tornadoes wreaked havoc across Kentucky. At the peak of the storm's impact, more than 32,000 customers were left without power. The extreme weather conditions resulted in injuries to twenty-two Kentuckians and one fatality.

In their letter to the President, the delegation stated: “Kentucky has faced a number of Major Disasters in recent years. As you know from your previous visits, in just the past four years, Kentucky has been devastated by some of the worst tornadoes and floods in state history. Kentucky has received eight Major Disaster Declarations since 2020, not including COVID-19. Further, some counties included in the Governor’s request have been included in as many as six Major Disaster Declarations; thus federal assistance is needed."

Governor Beshear recently requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration that would unlock access to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance to mitigate future disasters statewide and for individual citizens in eleven counties: Boyd, Carter, Fayette, Greenup, Henry, Jefferson, Jessamine Mason Oldham Union and Whitley Counties.

To read the full letter from the Kentucky delegation click HERE.