For
Immediate Release
February 29, 2000
Contact: Mark Pfeiffer (502) 564-2611
Patrick Conley, Ky.
Division of Emergency Management (502) 607-1611
FRANKFORT,
Ky. -- In response to his request for federal assistance, Governor Paul Patton
announced last night that President Clinton has declared portions of north
central and north eastern Kentucky as federal disaster areas following
torrential rains and flooding which occurred on February 18 and 19. Patton met
with President Clinton in Washington, D.C. last night, while attending a
National Governors Association meeting.
"President
Clinton told me the assistance made available by the declaration will provide
help for individuals and families as well as for local governments and utilities
affected by the storms,” Governor Patton said. “We
will continue our efforts to provide relief to all those who have received
losses to the storms.”
Boyd,
Fleming, Greenup, Lewis, Nicholas and Rowan Counties will be eligible to receive
aid both for individual/business and governmental disaster losses.
Bath, Carter, Mason and Robertson Counties have been approved for
individual/business assistance only. Harrison County has been approved for
public assistance only.
Individual
assistance programs will include disaster housing, grants, and low cost loans to
cover uninsured home and business property losses.
The
Federal Emergency Management Agency will fund 75% of costs in both the
individual and public assistance programs.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky will pay 25% of the individual assistance
costs and 12% of the public recovery costs, with local governments responsible
for 13% of the public recovery costs.
Governor Patton has designated W.R.Padgett, director of the state's Division of Emergency Management (KyEM), to serve as State Coordinating Officer for the recovery effort and work closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Padgett said a state-federal "disaster field office" will be established this week to answer questions and administer the various disaster programs.
Governor
Patton is encouraging all individuals affected by last week's tornado to
register for help by calling toll free, 1-800-462-9029, or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY)
for the hearing and speech impaired. The
toll free number will be available starting Tuesday, February 29 from 8 a.m. to
6 p.m., seven days a week until further notice.
Padgett
says KyEM field staff is working with local officials to determine if additional
counties have enough storm damages to be included in the federal disaster
declaration.
-30-