Kentucky still waiting to see if FEMA will offer public assistance for multiple disasters

FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — State leaders are still waiting to see if the federal government will step in to help local governments build back from multiple natural disasters this year. Gov. Andy Beshear said that the state government is preparing for the possibility of shouldering millions more in costs.

“It is a trillion-plus-dollar government helping a billion-dollar-plus government. We absolutely need their help,” Gov. Andy Beshear said at Thursday’s Team Kentucky briefing.

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When the federal government declares a disaster, there are two pots of FEMA money the state has to be approved for. Individual assistance, which goes directly to storm victims, and public assistance, which goes to local governments to repair and rebuild.

“Thus far, we have not received approval from the president for public assistance for either the April floods or these tornadoes,” Beshear said. He stressed that without federal help, Kentucky could be on track for a tough financial hit. Beshear said in the past, public assistance typically has been able to absorb as much as 75% of a county’s recovery costs. Beshear said the federal government’s decision could determine the need for a special session.

“We are having to put together two sets of numbers, because if the federal government were to grant public assistance for April, where we don’t have a SAFE act or the May tornadoes, if they were to grant that, we’d be talking about tens of millions of dollars,” he said. “If we’re not going to get public assistance, we’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars between the state and the city that throws all of our budgets out of whack.”

Beshear said he will soon meet with legislative leaders early next month when the numbers are ready. Senate President Robert Stivers said the General Assembly will act if needed.

“We had $200 million that’s accessible to him over the next six months. And if he needs more, we can do a one-day session, waive second readings, and have something to him within days, if needed,” Stivers said to a gathering of reporters on Wednesday.