Bowling Green Today

Members of Kentucky's congressional delegation, including 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) have sent a letter to President Joe Biden supporting Governor Andy Beshear’s request for a major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This request follows severe weather conditions experienced in April.

The severe weather events included wind, thunderstorms, mudslides, and flooding that impacted the Commonwealth, with more than a dozen tornadoes sweeping through Kentucky. The storm left over 32,000 customers without power at its peak. Tragically, twenty-two Kentuckians were injured and one lost their life due to the harsh weather conditions.

In their letter to the President, the delegation highlighted the frequency of major disasters that have hit Kentucky in recent years. "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," they wrote.

Governor Beshear's recent request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration would unlock access to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance for future disaster mitigation efforts statewide and for individual citizens in eleven counties: Boyd, Carter, Fayette, Greenup, Henry, Jefferson, Jessamine, Mason, Oldham, Union and Whitley Counties.