Bowling Green Today

Kentucky's federal 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 following severe weather in April.

The state experienced severe wind, thunderstorms, mudslides, flooding, and more than a dozen tornadoes. At the peak of the storm's impact, over 32,000 customers were without power. The storm resulted in twenty-two injuries and one fatality.

In their letter to President Biden, 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, and thus, federal assistance is needed."

Governor Beshear's request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration aims to unlock Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance for mitigating future disasters across the state and providing aid to individual citizens in Boyd, Carter, Fayette, Greenup, Henry, Jefferson, Jessamine, Mason, Oldham, Union, and Whitley Counties.