Governor Asks President to Declare Kentucky Disaster Area

News Release: Governor Steve Beshear asks President Bush to declare Kentucky a disaster area Designation could bring federal help for storm ravaged areas FRANKFORT, KY (Feb. 11, 2008) – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today sent a letter to President George W. Bush asking that the president declare Kentucky a disaster area. The designation would make residents and businesses in certain Kentucky counties eligible for federal disaster relief. The request comes as a result of tornadoes and damaging winds that tore through parts of Kentucky in the early morning hours of February 6, 2008, leaving seven people dead and dozens more injured. The initial assessment of damage indicates sufficient damage in the surveyed areas to warrant the disaster declaration request. The nine counties included in the initial request are Allen, Christian, Fayette, Hardin, Hart, Meade, Mercer, Monroe and Muhlenberg. According to the letter from Governor Beshear, the state is continuing to evaluate the damage in other counties and could, based on damage assessment reports, request that additional areas be added to the federal disaster declaration at that time. In his letter, Governor Beshear said, “I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the Commonwealth and the affected local governments and that supplementary federal assistance is necessary.” In his request, Governor Beshear specifically asked for Individual and Household Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Disaster Legal Services, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Small Business Administration disaster loans, Federal Highway Administration Assistance, United States Department of Agriculture disaster loans, Hazard Mitigation, and other assistance as may be found appropriate.