TOTAL FEDERAL DISASTER AID FOR KENTUCKY EXCEEDS $14 MILLION

FROM:  FEMA
Federal Disaster Aid Total In Kentucky Exceeds $14 Million
FRANKFORT, Ky. — More than $14 million in federal disaster assistance has been approved for Kentucky survivors of the recent severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding occurring Feb. 29 through March 3.
"The swift action by our local, state and federal partners in response to this natural disaster has allowed millions of federal dollars to go directly to our families as they recover and rebuild their lives," Gov. Steve Beshear said. "We will continue to monitor and assist in these long-term recovery efforts until every community is stable and thriving once again."
To date:
Over 5,000 Kentuckians in 21 designated counties have contacted FEMA for help or information regarding disaster assistance.
More than $6.3 million has been approved for housing assistance, including short-term rental assistance and home repair costs.
More than 2,580 homes sustained damages. Of those, more than 671 were destroyed.
Over 4,400 households have received FEMA grants to help pay for temporary housing.
Over 2,940 inspections of damaged properties have been conducted.
Over $6.7 million in low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses has been approved by the Small Business Administration.
Nearly $1.6 million has been approved to cover other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.
The 14 Kentucky counties eligible for help from FEMA’s Public Assistance program are Ballard, Grant, Johnson, Kenton, Larue, Laurel, Lawrence, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Morgan, Pendleton, Trimble and Wolfe.

Public Assistance is available on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of damaged infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, utilities, schools and similar facilities. Public Assistance is also available to certain private nonprofit agencies and organizations.

Commonwealth counties eligible for Individual Assistance are Bath, Campbell, Carroll, Grant, Grayson, Johnson, Kenton, Larue, Laurel, Lawrence, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Ohio, Pendleton, Rowan, Russell, Trimble and Wolfe.
Individual Assistance for homeowners and renters can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs.

Kentucky Emergency Management and FEMA are encouraging Kentuckians to make sure their friends, neighbors and family members have registered with FEMA for federal disaster assistance.

The federal disaster assistance registration deadline for Individual Assistance is May 7.
Disaster officials stress the importance of returning the SBA loan application survivors may have received as part of their registration package. Completion of the application provides information that may determine eligibility for further federal disaster assistance.
There are three ways to register with FEMA for help or information regarding disaster assistance: call 800-621-FEMA (3362), register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or register using a tablet or Smartphone by visiting m.fema.gov. Help is available in many languages.

Disaster applicants who use TTY should call 800-462-7585. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service should call 800-621-3362. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, every day.

Kentucky Emergency Management urges anyone who has storm damage to their residence or other property to document the damage by photographing or videoing it and to maintain a list of any repairs and keep repair receipts. Report the damage and location to your county emergency manager.

Free crisis counseling, supported by a grant from FEMA, is available to Kentuckians who suffer from stress, anxiety or depression as a result of the recent storms and flooding. Persons who need this assistance and live in Johnson, Magoffin, or Martin County call 800-422-1060; residents of Bath, Lawrence, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Rowan, or Wolfe counties call 800-562-8909; citizens in Campbell, Carroll, Grant, Kenton, or Pendleton County call 859-331-3292; and in Laurel County, call 888-640-9335.
The FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides Commonwealth, local governments and certain private nonprofits with grants to improve the ability of public facilities to withstand future disasters.

KENTUCKY RESIDENTS WILL RECEIVE MORE THAN $7 MILLION IN RELIEF FOR RECENT STORMS

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved more than $7 million for survivors of the recent severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding occurring Feb. 29-March 3, 2012.

“Funds are being quickly provided to survivors in the Commonwealth so they can begin their recovery as soon as possible,” said Libby Turner, federal officer in charge of the Kentucky recovery. “Our outreach teams are also on the ground in home improvement stores in impacted areas advising residents in the best ways to rebuild safer, stronger and smarter to minimize damages in future severe weather events.”

To date:

• Approximately 4,400 survivors in 21 designated counties have contacted FEMA for help or information regarding disaster assistance. Many people have sought housing assistance from FEMA because their primary residence has been damaged or destroyed.
• More than $5.2 million has been approved for housing assistance, including short-term rental assistance and home repair costs.
• More than 2,200 homes sustained damages. Of those, more than 650 were destroyed.
• Approximately 1,200 households have received FEMA grants to help pay for temporary housing.
• Approximately 2,400 inspections of damaged properties have been conducted.
• More than $900,000 in low-interest disaster loans has been approved by the Small Business Administration.
• Approximately $1.2 million has been approved to cover other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.
• Nine disaster recovery centers are open for survivors to get information on disaster assistance programs and help them apply for aid.
• More than 1,900 visits have been made to disaster recovery centers.

The 14 counties in Kentucky currently eligible for Public Assistance are Ballard, Grant, Johnson, Kenton, Larue, Laurel, Lawrence, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Morgan, Pendleton, Trimble and Wolfe. Public Assistance is available to local governments on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of damaged infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, utilities, schools and similar facilities.

The 21 counties in Kentucky are currently eligible for Individual Assistance are Bath, Campbell, Carroll, Grant, Grayson, Johnson, Kenton, Larue, Laurel, Lawrence, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Ohio, Pendleton, Rowan, Russell, Trimble and Wolfe. Individual Assistance for homeowners and renters can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs.

More than 250 volunteer agencies rushed to aid Kentucky following the storms that tore across the Commonwealth. FEMA helps match volunteers with storm-damaged areas where help is needed.

Mitigation specialists are offering free information and answering questions about rebuilding at home improvement stores in five Commonwealth counties.

Survivors who receive a letter from FEMA that says more information is needed to determine their eligibility for federal disaster assistance should read it carefully. If a survivor gets a letter requesting more information or informing them of a decision they disagree with, FEMA urges them to call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362) and to file an appeal.

Survivors who received an application from the U.S. Small Business Administration for a low-interest disaster loan must complete and return it as soon as possible. No survivor is required to accept a loan, but they must return a completed application to be considered for additional FEMA assistance.

IRS, with the cooperation of the Kentucky Department of Revenue, is postponing certain tax deadlines for Kentuckians who live in, or have a business in any Commonwealth county designated for Individual Assistance. This special relief includes an extension of the April 17 deadline for filing 2011 individual income tax returns, making income tax payments and making 2011 contributions to an individual retirement account. 

Kentucky senior citizens who receive disaster assistance from FEMA as a result of the recent severe storms and tornadoes will not lose their Social Security benefits nor have their benefits cut. Disaster grants will not affect income levels, which might cause a senior citizen to become ineligible for Medicaid, welfare assistance, food stamps or Aid to Families with Dependent Children.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.