President Barack Obama on Friday declared parts of Kentucky devastated by May storms, tornadoes, flooding and mudslides a major disaster, making federal funding available for recovery.
Gov. Steve Beshear said in a news release that Crittenden and 21 other counties will be eligible for federal funding, and in four of those counties, individuals will be able to apply for grants, low-cost loans and other programs to help rebuild.
According to the White House, the eligible counties are Ballard, Breathitt, Carlisle, Clay, Crittenden, Floyd, Grayson, Hickman, Jackson, Knott, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Madison, Magoffin, Marshall, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Russell, and Trigg.
In all of those counties, federal funding will be available to eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work or the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by severe storms, flooding, torandoes and mudslides.
In four of those counties - Breathitt, Floyd, Owsley and Pike - federal grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs, will also be available for individuals and business owners.
Additionally, the federal funds will be available for "hazard mitigation measures" for the entire state, the White House statement said.
The White House says the federal funding will be available for weather events that occurred from May 3 to May 20.
This comes as an addition to the Feb. 5 declaration by Obama that designated 93 Kentucky counties a disaster area due to the affects of a late January ice storm that caused more than $185 million in damages.
