Disaster Assistance To Kentucky Reaches $3.8 Million For June Storms 

Release Date: July 25, 2003
Release Number: 1475-11

» More Information on Kentucky Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes

Frankfort, KY -- Disaster assistance totaling $3.8 million has been approved so far to help Kentuckians hit by a series of fierce storms, floods, slides and tornadoes in June, federal and state officials said.

"We are working hard with our state, local and volunteer partners to help these stricken areas recover as quickly as possible," said Scott Wells, federal coordinating officer for the disaster recovery effort.

Under President George W. Bush's July 2 disaster declaration, individuals and business owners in 20 Eastern Kentucky counties can apply for assistance to recover from damage caused by the severe weather between June 14 and June 27.

The number of disaster assistance applications as a result of the June storms reached 2,216 by the close of business July 24. Nearly $2.45 million in grants has been earmarked for temporary rental housing or emergency repairs to make damaged homes livable. Another $1.14 million has been approved for other uninsured, disaster-related necessary expenses, such as medical care or transportation.

For major repairs and replacement of damaged personal property, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $238,100 in low-interest, long-term disaster loans for renters, homeowners and business owners.

State Coordinating Officer Charlie Winter of Kentucky Emergency Management (KyEM) noted that the money approved for the June storms is in addition to millions of dollars in disaster assistance funds approved for the survivors of earlier severe weather that afflicted the state between May 4 and May 27. Those storms triggered a separate presidential disaster declaration June 3 for 37 counties.

For the May 4-27 storms, 2,001 Kentuckians had applied for disaster assistance by the close of business July 24. A total of nearly $6 million in assistance has been approved for the May disaster, including $2.5 million for housing grants, $1.14 million for other disaster-related needs and $2.34 million for SBA long-term, low-interest disaster loans.

"The state received two presidential disaster declarations in less than a month, and this opened the door to assistance for people suffering property damages from the destructive storms in both May and June," Winter said. "Kentucky is on the road to recovery."

Last Modified: Friday, 25-Jul-2003 14:22:38