Latest news with #IndividualAssistance
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
FEMA individual assistance approved in Kentucky for tornado-affected counties
LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) — One week after an EF-4 tornado tore through southern Kentucky, there's finally a glimmer of hope for those affected. Governor Andy Beshear announced in a post on X on Friday night that there is some 'good news.' FEMA Individual Assistance is now available for six counties, including Laurel, Pulaski, and Russell. Individual assistance can cover a wide range of needs. Pedestrian taken to hospital after being hit by car in downtown Lexington 'Individual assistance includes things like loss of personal property, damage to your home, displacement assistance, and serious needs assistance, for example. These are just some of the many different types of assistance that people may be eligible for, depending on their situation, which everybody's situation is unique,' said FEMA Public Information Officer Daniel Bernardy. Currently, two Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are open in Pulaski and Laurel counties. These centers are staffed by representatives from FEMA, the American Red Cross, the Small Business Administration, and other state agencies. They are all working together to meet with storm victims face-to-face and connect them with resources tailored to their needs. 'You really do have that face-to-face human connection, which will meet you with empathy. We'll hear your story. And there's something about that that's different than just going online,' Bernardy told FOX 56. Like he said, victims don't have to physically come to the DRC in London or Somerset – they can also go to other DRCs still in place from previous disasters. They can go online to download the FEMA app, or call 800-621-FEMA (3362). 'This particular disaster recovery center could be here for a couple of weeks, or it could be for a couple of months. And it just depends. But one true thing is that FEMA will not make that decision alone. We do that with our county partners,' said Bernardy. According to the FEMA website, new DRCs were established in the following locations for Laurel and Pulaski counties. Both Disaster Recovery Centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays After filling out the proper forms and providing all the necessary information, applicants will get a letter approving or denying their assistance. If you get a denial, Bernardy said not to lose hope. That denial could be reversed. Bernardy told FOX 56, 'It's not necessarily the end of the road. Read that letter through top to bottom, inside out. We might just be missing a document. We might not have your contact information correct. Something might be off. We can maybe turn that denial into an approval.' FEMA individual assistance approved in Kentucky for tornado-affected counties Pedestrian taken to hospital after being hit by car in downtown Lexington Massachusetts woman indicted for allegedly causing crash that killed 1, sent child to ICU Denial appeals can be filed at a DRC, online, by mail, or by fax. Officials are urging everyone impacted by the tornado to apply for assistance, no matter how big or small the loss. There is help waiting; you just need to take the first step. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump declares KY's flooding a major disaster, paving the way for federal aid
President Donald Trump has signed off on Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's request for a major disaster declaration regarding the widespread flooding that affected the commonwealth earlier this month. Trump has approved individual assistance for 13 counties, though the governor's request for public assistance and direct federal assistance for 33 counties and hazard mitigation for the entire state are still pending, Beshear's office said Friday night. Residents and business owners in Anderson, Butler, Carroll, Christian, Clark, Franklin, Hardin, Hopkins, Jessamine, McCracken, Mercer, Owen and Woodford counties will be able to apply for help from FEMA. Beshear will ask that more counties be added after damage assessments are finished, his office said. '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. '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.' Beshear had requested the major disaster declaration April 11. . U.S. Rep. James Comer and U.S. Rep. Andy Barr issued statements announcing the disaster approval Friday afternoon. Kentucky's federal delegates had written an April 14 letter supporting the declaration, Comer said in a statement. 'The resources made available today through this declaration will play a vital role in emergency response, debris removal, and the long road to recovery,' he wrote. 'Today's federal declaration unlocks funding through the Individual Assistance (IA) program, enabling individuals affected by the flooding to receive reimbursement for essential expenses and serious needs not covered by insurance or other forms of aid,' Comer said. 'Eligible assistance may include rental support, home repairs or replacement, temporary lodging, and other critical expenses.' The floodwaters that resulted from up to 15 inches of rain in some places left seven people dead, damaged homes and businesses, closed hundreds of roads, forced evacuations and led communities to conserve water. 'Just received word from the White House: President @realDonaldTrump has approved disaster assistance for Kentucky. Thank you, Mr. President!' Barr wrote in a post on the social media platform X. After the flooding that affected every county in the state in February, the state received an expedited declaration of a major disaster declaration, which Beshear said 'authorized at least some level of public assistance for local governments in 68 counties and individual assistance for Kentuckians in 16 counties.' However, Beshear said Wednesday, FEMA denied assistance for the February flooding to individuals in six counties — Butler, Franklin, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, and Whitley — saying the flood's impact 'is not of the severity and magnitude to warrant their designation under the Individual Assistance program.' FEMA also denied public assistance to Woodford and Simpson counties, saying their infrastructure had not been affected to the degree necessary to warrant help that is sometimes available to local governments and nonprofits. 'We are actively comparing the damage assessments, and we plan to appeal this decision,' Behsear said in response.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arkansas appeals Trump administration denial of federal aid for tornado recovery
Arkansas is appealing the Trump administration's denial of federal aid for the state's recovery efforts after a string of deadly and destructive tornado storms. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-Ark.) requested help for people who were impacted by the mid-March tornadoes, some of the state's worst since 1997. The Trump administration denied Sanders's request for funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). She wrote again to Trump to appeal the denial. In a letter, signed by both Arkansas senators and its four representatives, the lawmakers asked Trump to reconsider. 'As Governor Sanders noted in her request, these storms caused catastrophic damage across the state, resulting in disastrous amounts of debris, widespread destruction to homes and businesses, the deaths of three Arkansans, and injuries to many more,' the lawmakers wrote. They noted that just weeks later, the state was hit with another round of severe storms, including a 'generational flood event' that compounded damage for many of the same counties and included three more deaths. 'Given the cumulative impact and sheer magnitude of destruction from these severe weather events, federal assistance is vital to ensure that state and local communities have the capabilities needed to rebuild,' the lawmakers said. The Arkansas delegation said a preliminary assessment of damage had an estimated cost of $8.8 million and asked that Sanders's request for a 30-day extension on submitting a disaster declaration be granted. The state needs additional time to conduct analysis on the damage in 63 of its 75 counties, they said. 'The entire Arkansas delegation is eager to assist in any way possible to ensure the expedited evaluation of these requests,' the group concluded. The denial comes as the Trump administration has criticized the agency and its efforts. The president has long critiqued the agency, including on the campaign trail and his first few days back in office. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in late March that she has plans to 'eliminate' FEMA, which Trump said was 'great.' In January, the president said he would sign an executive order to fundamentally reform and overhaul the agency or consider getting rid of it all together. In another Arkansas request to the administration for aid, Sanders said the help is 'crucial' to her state's rebuilding process. 'I am formally appealing the denial of Individual Assistance,' she wrote in a letter to Trump. 'I respectfully ask that you consider the significant strain the citizens of Arkansas have endured over the past month.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Arkansas appeals Trump administration denial of federal aid for tornado recovery
Arkansas is appealing the Trump administration's denial of federal aid for the state's recovery efforts after a string of deadly and destructive tornado storms. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-Ark.) requested help for people who were impacted by the mid-March tornadoes, some of the state's worst since 1997. The Trump administration denied Sanders's request for funding through Individual Assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). She wrote again to Trump to appeal the denial. In a letter, signed by both Arkansas senators and its four representatives, the lawmakers asked Trump to reconsider. 'As Governor Sanders noted in her request, these storms caused catastrophic damage across the state, resulting in disastrous amounts of debris, widespread destruction to homes and businesses, the deaths of three Arkansans, and injuries to many more,' the lawmakers wrote. They noted that just weeks later, the state was hit with another round of severe storms, including a 'generational flood event' that compounded damage for many of the same counties and included three more deaths. 'Given the cumulative impact and sheer magnitude of destruction from these severe weather events, federal assistance is vital to ensure that state and local communities have the capabilities needed to rebuild,' the lawmakers said. The Arkansas delegation said a preliminary assessment of damage had an estimated cost of $8.8 million and asked for Sanders's request for a 30-day extension on submitting a disaster declaration be granted. The state needs additional time to conduct analysis on the damage in 63 of its 75 counties, they said. 'The entire Arkansas delegation is eager to assist in any way possible to ensure the expedited evaluation of these requests,' the group concluded. The denial comes as the Trump administration has criticized the agency and its efforts. The president has long critiqued the agency, including on the campaign trail and his first few days back in office. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in late March that she has plans to 'eliminate' FEMA, which Trump said was 'great.' In January, the president said he would sign an executive order to fundamentally reform and overhaul the agency or consider getting rid of it all together. In another Arkansas request to the administration for aid, Sanders said the help is 'crucial' to her state rebuilding process. 'I am formally appealing the denial of Individual Assistance,' she wrote in a letter to Trump, later adding, 'I respectfully ask that you consider the significant strain the citizens of Arkansas have endured over the past month.'
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump approves Virginia's disaster declaration for February floods
RICHMOND, Va. (WJHL) — President Donald Trump approved Virginia's major disaster declaration, opening up additional funding for recovery efforts after floods hit Southwest Virginia in February. Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced the approval in a release Friday. Local governments in the affected counties will be able to access funding for rebuilding and repairing homes, private bridges, and infrastructure and providing rental assistance to those impacted by the disaster, according to Youngkin's office. Bristol, Virginia Fire Dept. receives ultrasound device to use in field 'I am grateful to President Trump and the entire Administration for moving forward in their approval of the major disaster declaration,' Youngkin said in a release. 'We will continue to seek every recovery resource necessary to support Virginians that have been adversely impacted by these storms.' A final determination on Individual Assistance, which provides financial assistance and direct services to those impacted by a disaster, has not been made. 'While a final determination has not yet been made on Individual Assistance, I have spoken at length with the Administration about reforming the Individual Assistance formulas that adversely affect the Commonwealth's eligibility and am pleased that FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton has committed to review these formulas,' Youngkin said. Severe flooding in mid-February resulted in washed-out roads, flooded homes, power outages, and water rescues in multiple Southwest Virginia counties. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
