For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 3, 2003
Statement on Federal Assistance in Kentucky
Statement by the Press Secretary
The President today declared a major disaster exists in the
Commonwealth of Kentucky and ordered Federal aid to supplement State
and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms,
flooding, mud and rock slides, and tornadoes on May 4-27, 2003.
The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected
individuals in a 32 county area. The counties include Anderson, Boyd,
Breckenridge, Boyle, Bullitt, Caldwell, Carter, Crittenden, Elliott,
Fleming, Garrard, Grayson, Greenup, Hardin, Hart, Henderson, Hopkins,
Jefferson, Jessamine, Larue, Lewis, Lawrence, Mason, McLean, Meade,
Mercer, Nelson, Rowan, Union, Washington, Webster, and Woodford.
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 funding also is available to Commonwealth and eligible
local governments on a cost-sharing basis for the repair or replacement
of public facilities damaged by the severe storms, flooding, mud and
rock slides, and tornadoes in the counties of Ballard, Boyd, Breathitt,
Calloway, Carter, Crittenden, Estill, Fleming, Greenup, Hart,
Henderson, Hopkins, Lewis, Livingston, McLean, Mercer, Nicholas,
Owsley, Perry and Rowan.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-share basis for hazard
mitigation measures.
Representing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and
Response, Department of Homeland Security, named Charles M. Butler as
the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the
affected area.
The Agency said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas,
and additional counties may be added for assistance after the
assessments are completed.
The Agency said that residents and business owners who sustained
losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance
tomorrow by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362), or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for
the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will
operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.
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