Butler County among those denied FEMA assistance for February flooding

FRANKFORT, Ky.  Gov. Andy Beshear has announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied public assistance for two counties and individual assistance for six counties affected by February flooding, including Butler County.

On Wednesday, Beshear’s office stated FEMA stated the following in a letter to the governor: “[B]ased on the results of the joint preliminary damage assessments, it has been determined that the impact to the individuals and households in Butler, Franklin, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence and Whitley Counties is not of the severity and magnitude to warrant their designation under the Individual Assistance program.”

The letter also states, “In addition, it has been determined that the impact to the infrastructure in Simpson and Woodford Counties is not of the severity and magnitude to warrant their designation under the Public Assistance program.”

The governor will host a Team Kentucky Update on Thursday, where he will provide the latest information on the state’s response to severe weather in February and April.

“While we are grateful to have gotten an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for the February flooding, which has authorized at least some level of public assistance for local governments in 68 counties and individual assistance for Kentuckians in 16 counties, we are disappointed to receive this latest news,” Beshear said. “We are actively comparing the damage assessments, and we plan to appeal this decision.”

As for the April flooding event, Beshear’s office says it requested a Major Disaster Declaration from President Donald Trump on April 11. The state says it is still waiting to hear if the request has been approved.

News 40 will continue to provide the latest information as it becomes available.