June Storms Disaster Assistance Tops $6.5 Million
Release Date: August 13, 2003
Release Number: 1475-18
» More Information on Kentucky Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes
Frankfort, KY -- More than $6.5 million in disaster assistance has been approved so far to help Kentuckians hit by the severe storms, floods, mud- and rockslides, and tornadoes of June, federal and state officials said.
"Working with our state, local and volunteer partners, we are assisting most of those who suffered losses because of the recent storms. We encourage those who have not yet applied for assistance to do so by calling 1.800.621.FEMA or TTY 1.800.462.7585 for the speech- and hearing-impaired," said Scott Wells, federal coordinating officer for the disaster recovery effort. The deadline to apply for Individual disaster assistance for the June storms (June 14-27) is Tuesday, September 2, 2003.
Under President George W. Bush's July 2 disaster declaration, individuals and business owners in 21 Eastern Kentucky counties can apply for assistance to recover from damage caused by the severe weather.
Disaster data for the June 14-27 storms as of Close of Business August 12:
- Disaster assistance applications: 3,237.
- Temporary Rental Assistance/Emergency Repairs (to make damaged homes livable): $3,762,560.
- Other Necessary Expenses (medical care, transportation, personal property): $1,623,799.
- Public Assistance (debris removal, emergency services, repair of public buildings, roads, bridges, etc.): 266 project worksheets have been prepared.
- Mitigation: This disaster declaration will make available funding to the Commonwealth of Kentucky to assist local government to undertake mitigation measures to reduce loss of life and property damage during future storm events.
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low interest, long-term disaster loans (For major repairs and replacement of damaged personal property for renters, homeowners and business owners): $1,200,000 million.
State Coordinating Officer Charlie Winter of the Kentucky Division of 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 victims of earlier severe weather that afflicted the state between May 4 and May 27. Those storms triggered a separate presidential disaster declaration June 6 for 37 counties.
Disaster Assistance for the May 4-27 storms, as of Close of Business August 12:
- Disaster assistance applications: 2,097.
- Temporary Rental Assistance/Emergency Repairs (to make damaged homes livable): $2,707,156.
- Other Necessary Expenses (medical care, transportation, personal property): $1,246,067.
- Public Assistance (debris removal, emergency services, repair of public buildings, roads, bridges, etc.): 312 project worksheets have been prepared.
- Mitigation: This disaster declaration will make available funding to the Commonwealth of Kentucky to assist local government to undertake mitigation measures to reduce loss of life and property damage during future storm events.
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low interest, long-term disaster loans (For major repairs and replacement of damaged personal property for renters, homeowners and business owners): $3,267,200 million.
"The state received two presidential disaster declarations in less than a month; this opened the door to assistance for people suffering property damages from the destructive storms in both May and June. A lot of resources have been committed to the recovery process and are in the hands of those in need," Winter said. "We can truly say, Kentucky is on the road to recovery."
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 13-Aug-2003 15:29:03