Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence touring storm damaged areas

Frankfort, KY:   Governor Ernie Fletcher issued a declaration for a state of emergency today due to the storms that ripped through the Commonwealth last night.  Hundreds of homes and other buildings were damaged by the powerful storms.  Currently there are power outages and road closures in a number of Kentucky counties. Storm victims are starting to clean up.  The state of emergency executive order was issued on the recommendation by emergency management crews and local elected officials like individual county judge executives.    

"By declaring a state of emergency in these countries, we can immediately offer additional state resources to help local officials in the cleanup effort,” stated Governor Fletcher.  "I have been in continuous contact with state and local emergency management officials regarding the widespread storm damage.  We have a great number of skilled emergency responders, utility workers and volunteers working right now to help storm victims.   I have also directed my Governor's Office field representatives in the LINK offices in those areas to communicate with local elected officials to ascertain their immediate needs as they deal with the storm aftermath. With our coordinated state and local effort, we are doing all we can to assess the damage and provide relief to storm victims.”

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence is touring the heavily damaged areas in several counties today.  Lt. Governor Pence will get a view of the destruction from their air and on the ground in some of the hardest hit areas, including Henry County and the Masterson Station area in Lexington.

"It's remarkable that more people were not seriously injured or killed,” stated Lt. Governor Pence.  "These storms were devastating.  The Governor and I are keeping storm victims, volunteers, and emergency workers in our thoughts and prayers.”

###