Trump declares deadly floods a major disaster: What this means for Kentuckians

On Monday, President Donald Trump declared the severe weather beginning Feb. 14 a major disaster in the Commonwealth, paving the way for residents to receive individual federal assistance.

Assistance will be available in the following counties:

• Breathitt
• Clay
• Harlan
• Knott
• Lee
• Letcher
• Martin
• Owsley
• Perry
• Pike

“Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster,” Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) wrote in a news release.

Funding is also available for local governments and certain non-profits on a cost-sharing basis for “emergency protective measures.”

“We fought hard to secure Individual and Public Assistance for our families and communities affected by flooding. Hours after approval, the FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator is in Kentucky and we’re setting up recovery centers, going door-to-door, and taking the first steps to rebuild together,” Gov. Andy Beshear wrote on Tuesday.

Affected individuals and businesses can begin applying for assistance here.