President Donald Trump approved individual disaster assistance for residents in 13 Kentucky counties April 25 following historic April flooding across the commonwealth, Gov. Andy Beshear announced.
Anderson, Butler, Carroll, Christian, Clark, Franklin, Hardin, Hopkins, Jessamine, McCracken, Mercer, Owen and Woodford counties were approved for individual assistance. Beshear’s requests for public assistance in 33 counties and hazard mitigation for the entire commonwealth are still pending.
“This declaration is crucial because so many Kentucky families have been significantly affected by this event, and the greatest impact has been felt by our families whose homes were flooded,” Beshear said in a news release. “We are again thankful to President Trump and his administration for approving this critical funding. Just like before, we will get through this — together. And I promise that we will be there for our people as long as it takes.”
Available assistance includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the disaster, Federal Emergency Management Agency officials said in a news release.
Residents and business owners in the designated counties who were impacted by the flooding can apply for assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or by using the FEMA App.
The commonwealth plans to ask FEMA to expand the list of counties eligible for assistance, Beshear added.
“We will request that other counties be added to the declaration through an amendment once ongoing assessments are complete. So many families are hurting, and this support is essential to helping them rebuild,” he wrote on X.
The declaration follows heavy and prolonged rainfall in early April that caused significant flash and river flooding in various parts of the commonwealth. The Ohio River in Louisville crested at 36.63 feet, the eighth highest crest for the location.
More: KY still awaiting Trump administration decision on disaster assistance for April foods
Mayor Craig Greenberg said the cleanup is expected to cost about $5 million in Louisville after floodwaters consumed stretches of River Road and southwest Louisville. He says cleanup efforts ahead of the 151st Kentucky Derby are primarily being covered by FEMA.
Kentucky is also under a disaster declaration for flooding in February that caused 24 fatalities. Public assistance is available for local governments in 68 counties and individual assistance is available for residents in 16 counties in relation to that flooding.
Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com. Reach Killian Baarlaer at kbaarlaer@gannett.com or @bkillian72 on X.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Trump approves individual disaster assistance in KY for April floods