Kentucky is still awaiting word from the Trump administration regarding its request for a major disaster declaration following the flooding that hit Kentucky in early April, Gov. Andy Beshear said during an April 24 news conference.
Beshear filed the request April 11, asking for individual assistance for 13 counties and public assistance for 33 counties. He said he is confident the damage left in the wake of the flooding warrants the federal assistance.
“I’ve seen enough of these where I know that we have sustained enough damage in that April flooding for not just the initial counties that we applied for but for many more to receive that aid, and our people are counting on the federal government and are counting on the president to sign that declaration so they can get the help that they need,” Beshear said.
The governor said he plans to amend the request to include more counties if the initial batch of counties are approved for assistance, including Jefferson, Nelson and Pendleton counties. The commonwealth has had success in the past requesting relief for a core group of afflicted counties and expanding from there.
His staff has been in contact with White House officials daily to push for individual and public assistance for the April flooding, Beshear said.
“In the end, this is all on the president’s desk. We need his help. It more than qualifies under the law, and we hope he’ll sign it soon,” he said.
Meanwhile, many Kentucky residents are still in the process of recovering from a spell of deadly flooding that swept through the commonwealth in February.
Trump declared a disaster for that severe weather event Feb. 24 — 10 days after it struck. Since then, 68 counties were made eligible for public assistance and 16 counties were made eligible for individual assistance.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has distributed about $36 million dollars in aid to more than 6,000 Kentucky households struggling with the ramifications of the February flooding, Beshear said.
“This is crucial aid and communities affected by the April flooding I think deserve the same assistance,” he said.
Some counties have been denied assistance for February flooding impacts, however.
In an April 22 letter, FEMA officials said individual assistance would not be provided for residents in Butler, Franklin, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence and Whitley counties. Simpson and Woodford counties were denied public assistance.
Beshear said he plans to appeal the rejection.
Contact reporter Killian Baarlaer at kbaarlaer@gannett.com or @bkillian72 on X.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: April flooding Kentucky: Trump yet to weigh in on disaster declaration