The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced this week that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the Commonwealth of Kentucky to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides, and mudslides on March 3-4.
President Joe Biden’s disaster declaration action makes federal funding available to affected state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities in Adair, Allen, Anderson, Barren, Bourbon, Breckenridge, Bullitt, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Casey, Christian, Clark, Clay, Crittenden, Cumberland, Daviess, Edmonson, Estill, Floyd, Franklin, Gallatin, Garrard, Grant, Graves, Grayson, Green, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Hart, Henry, Hopkins, Hickman, Jackson, Jessamine, Johnson, LaRue, Laurel, Lee, Lincoln, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Martin, McCracken, McLean, Meade, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Muhlenberg, Nelson, Nicholas, Ohio, Owen, Owsley, Powell, Robertson, Rockcastle, Simpson, Spencer, Taylor, Todd, Trigg, Trimble, Union, Warren, Washington, Webster, Whitley and Wolfe counties.
KACo received 132 property claims from 86 members as a result of the March storms. The damage to parks and recreation facilities, health departments, libraries and county-owned property totaled more than $2 million in claims.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a deep area of low pressure moved across the lower Ohio Valley region beginning March 3, 2023. The storm produced intense gradient winds from the southwest. “The strongest winds lasted for several hours, with peak wind gusts between 60-80 miles per hour occurring during the afternoon and early evening hours,” the NWS reported.
More information regarding the federal response can be found on the FEMA website.
