For Immediate
Release
January 5, 2000
Contact: Mark Pfeiffer (502) 564-2611 or
Pat Conley (502) 607-1611
Frankfort, Ky. - Governor Paul Patton today signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency and authorizing the state to respond to a wide range of assistance requests from local governments dealing with the aftermath of Monday's tornadoes and severe storms. “I’ve been briefed on the situation in those counties hit hard by the storm by emergency management officials and Lt. Governor Henry who surveyed the situation yesterday,” Governor Patton said. “We want to do all we can to help those in need in the storm damaged areas of Western Kentucky.”
Final damage assessment reports were received Wednesday from Crittenden County and Daviess County and the City of Owensboro, the only local governments to make official declarations of emergency following the severe weather outbreak. Statewide, 34 counties have reported varying levels of storm-related damage.
Governor Patton has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to conduct a "preliminary damage assessment," the next step required to determine Kentucky's eligibility for various forms of public and individual disaster aid. Federal assessment teams are expected in Kentucky Thursday, with field surveys expected to last two or three days.
If a presidential disaster declaration is obtained, storm victims could be eligible for various forms of help including grants or low interest loans. "It is very difficult to predict disaster aid eligibility," said Director W.R. Padgett of Kentucky's Division of Emergency Management, "until the final disaster surveys are completed." In the meantime victims are encouraged to contact local disaster relief agencies with emergency needs. The American Red Cross is establishing a disaster headquarters in Owensboro this week.
Padgett said many factors enter in to the federal disaster declaration decision process. Per capita losses and percentage of insured loss are two chief considerations.
"We typically know in a matter of days whether or not we'll receive the disaster declaration," said Padgett, "once the final surveys have been completed." Padgett praised emergency management leaders and local officials in all 34 impacted counties for the speed and accuracy of their damage assessments. "The assessments are vitally important," said Padgett, "not only as the cornerstone for state and federal disaster aid eligibility, but also as our very basis for emergency response tactical decision making."
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