FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 31, 2022) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear updated Kentuckians on new economic development projects, the historic flooding in Eastern Kentucky, Western Kentucky tornado relief, rural infrastructure improvement grants, assistance for nonprofits, COVID-19 and monkeypox. He also named corporate and community partners that have donated over $15,000 to the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Stars.
Economic Development Update
Today, the Governor highlighted three economic development projects that will create more than 2,075 new jobs and that represent more than $2.05 billion in new investment. He also announced a new Build-Ready site in Pulaski County.
Yesterday, Gov. Beshear, along with state and local officials, joined executives from Envision AESC to break ground on a $2 billion state-of-the-art electric vehicle battery gigafactory in Bowling Green’s Kentucky Transpark that will create 2,000 jobs.
Monday, the Governor announced continued momentum of the state’s signature bourbon and spirits industry as Blue Run Spirits LLC will locate a new whiskey operation in Georgetown with a nearly $51 million investment that will create a projected 45 quality jobs for Kentuckians.
Today, Gov. Beshear congratulated Delavan Ag Pumps Inc. on plans to locate a new manufacturing facility in Todd County, a $2.3 million investment creating 30 full-time jobs, as Kentucky’s agribusiness sector continues to showcase rapid growth.
The Governor also announced a new Build-Ready-certified site at Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) Commerce Park in Pulaski County, positioning the location to better attract new business to the region.
“As we push through the challenges of the present, there is a brighter future ahead of us,” Gov. Beshear said. “We see it in job announcements coming every single week – jobs of the future – through the largest projects we’ve ever seen, spread all across Kentucky.”
Eastern Kentucky Flood Update
Emergency Response
Fatalities
Gov. Beshear said there are 39 confirmed fatalities in five counties.
Missing Persons
Two people remain missing from Breathitt County: Vanessa Baker, a 60-year-old woman, and Nancy Cundiff, a 29-year-old woman – both from the Lost Creek Community. If you have any information about either of these individuals, please contact Kentucky State Police Post 13 in Hazard at 606-435-6069.
Power Outages
There are currently about 60 outages, down from 27,000 on July 29.
Water Outages
All drinking water systems are now operational; 22 systems were down immediately after the flooding.
The City of Buckhorn was the last system to come online, and residents began receiving water through the system’s distribution lines late last week. All but 20 connections have been restored.
Crews from the Kentucky Rural Water Association and organized volunteers from water companies across the commonwealth continue to check water lines for leaks. These crews are also working on the water line that supplies Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park and hope to restore drinking water soon.
There are 84 service connections without water, down from 34,121 on July 28. More than 5,000 customers remain under a boil water advisory, down from 46,000. Three water systems have limited operations: Breathitt, Letcher and Hazard.
For residents who still don’t have water service, WaterStep’s Water On Wheels Cart is currently distributing water at sites in Breathitt, Letcher and Perry counties.
The EPA recommends that private well owners follow instructions posted on What to Do After the Flood (epa.gov) to ensure that water, well pumps and equipment are safe to use.
Shelters
Local organizations including state parks, churches and schools are providing shelter to survivors. Kentucky State Parks are currently housing nearly 350 people.
Stabilization Phase
FEMA
To date, more than $92 million has been approved in federal grants, loans and flood insurance payments. More than $53.6 million in grants have been approved under the FEMA Individuals and Households Program for 6,550 households. In addition to a Disaster Recovery Center, Kentuckians can also apply through FEMA at DisasterAssistance.gov, on their mobile app or by calling 800-621-3362. Two Mobile Registration Centers are now open in Magoffin and Owsley counties from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To see the locations, visit governor.ky.gov/FloodResources.
Travel Trailers
Gov. Beshear and Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that the state of Louisiana is donating up to 300 travel trailers originally acquired to aid Hurricane Ida survivors to shelter Eastern Kentucky flood victims. This week, the commonwealth is moving the first trailers from Louisiana to Letcher and Floyd counties. Additional travel trailers will be moved in phases to various community sites in flood-impacted areas.
There are 289 individuals being housed in 119 travel trailers at Jenny Wiley State Park, Carr Creek State Park, Mine Made Campground, Crockettsville Campground and Perry County Park. Individuals seeking emergency sheltering in travel trailers can find more information and register at governor.ky.gov/FloodResources or call 502-234-1225.
Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP)
The Governor announced that residents and people working in the 12 counties approved for the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or D-SNAP, now have until Sept. 2 to apply for benefits. For more information on how to apply, visit governor.ky.gov/FloodResources.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Disaster Unemployment Assistance claimants in the 12 Eastern Kentucky counties approved for individual assistance can apply for benefits online through the Kentucky Career Center website or by phone at 502-875-0442. The deadline to apply is Sept. 6.
Schools
Of the 25 school districts in the impacted area, 21 are back in session and four are scheduled to return in late September.
U.S. Small Business Administration
Survivors who apply to FEMA may be referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to apply for long-term, low-interest loans. This includes homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations of all sizes to cover losses not completely covered by insurance.
To further assist disaster survivors, the SBA recently announced that it would extend the first repayment deadline to one year after the loan was signed, instead of the standard five months.
Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property. The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Sept. 28, 2022.
Rebuilding Phase
Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund
Flood survivors that qualify for FEMA are eligible for an additional $500. Much like the process for the Western Kentucky tornado relief, there is no application for this assistance. Data is being collected through FEMA, and eligible recipients will receive payment directly.
To date, the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief fund has raised over $8.5 million from 36,361 donors. The fund has paid for 39 funerals totaling $390,000. Donations can be made at TeamEKYFloodReliefFund.ky.gov. The Governor said as early as next week, there will be an announcement on how the next round of funds will be used to help flood survivors.
More than $3.3 Million in Additional SAFE Funds Awarded for Tornado Recovery
Gov. Beshear announced another round of awards from the West Kentucky State Aid Funding for Emergencies (SAFE) fund. The more than $3.3 million in assistance announced today will go to support the City of Mayfield and Fulton County, as well as several eligible utilities, to help with strained fiscal liquidity and costs associated with damages sustained in the December 2021 tornadoes.
“While our people in Eastern Kentucky are currently facing the tragic loss of precious lives taken too soon and homes swept off their foundations, we must also continue to support our communities in Western Kentucky that are still actively cleaning up from the devasting tornadoes that struck just two short weeks before Christmas,” said Gov. Beshear. “We will continue to be with these communities as they continue to clean up and rebuild in the months and even years to come.”
SAFE Fund awards announced today include:
- Fulton County will receive $257,311 to help with strained fiscal liquidity, paving costs and FEMA-ineligible debris removal.
- The City of Mayfield has been approved for more than $2.4 million in assistance for FEMA-ineligible debris removal, hauling expenses and tipping fees.
- The Marshall County Refuse District will receive $35,000 in financial assistance to support needed repairs to roads damaged by debris removal trucks.
- The North Marshall Water District has been approved for $400,000 in assistance to help repair damaged underground waterlines that are ineligible for FEMA assistance.
- The Princeton Electric Plant Board will receive $110,000 in local FEMA match funds and financial assistance for interest due on loans taken to ease strained fiscal liquidity.
- Salt River RECC has been awarded nearly $90,000 in funding to cover FEMA ineligible expenses for the replacement of utility poles, lines and equipment, as well as personnel costs associated with the utility’s emergency response following the tornadoes.
Since early May, Gov. Beshear has announced millions in Western Kentucky SAFE funding. Gov. Beshear recommended the appropriation for the SAFE fund, and the 2022 General Assembly supported the aid by passing Senate Bill 150, which the Governor signed into law in April.
“We have not turned down any eligible application that has come. We have granted all of them,” said Gov. Beshear. “I do believe there will be more over time.”
Kentucky Rural Infrastructure Improvement Grants
Further advancing his commitment to bring high-speed internet to unserved areas across the commonwealth, Gov. Beshear today announced another $20 million in grant funding to assist eligible high-speed internet providers with utility pole replacement costs associated with the expansion of the internet to residents and businesses currently without access or with low internet speeds. To learn more, see the full release.
Nonprofit Assistance Fund Update
Gov. Beshear announced the first group to receive a grant through the Team Kentucky Nonprofit Assistance Fund, which will provide one-time direct relief payments of up to $100,000 per eligible nonprofit organization. The first group to receive funding is the Coalition of the Homeless in Louisville. The coalition’s executive director Natalie Harris expressed her gratitude to the Governor and state legislature for making the funding available.
“The Coalition for the Homeless and our member agencies would like to thank Governor Beshear and our state legislature for making funds available to nonprofits,” Harris said. “We’re particularly thankful that the help was provided for local shelters throughout Kentucky. These agencies worked tirelessly during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep people safe. They kept going to work, they kept shelters open, they got people into housing and that work needs to continue. These funds will make that possible.”
Health Updates: COVID-19 and Monkeypox
The Governor said that COVID-19 continues to spread in Kentucky, as there was a small increase in the number of reported cases, including among school-aged children. He recommends that everyone six months of age or older stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations and receive any booster doses when eligible.
The number of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 has remained stable. However, there has been a small increase in the number of patients receiving intensive care. Gov. Beshear said that the trend will continue to be monitored. Today, the FDA authorized the updated COVID-19 booster shots targeting omicron subvariants. The boosters will soon be available.
A total of 30 cases of monkeypox have been identified in Kentucky. All cases have occurred in adults. Anyone who is eligible for the vaccine should contact their local health department to identify options for obtaining the vaccine.
Team Kentucky All-Stars
Gov. Beshear named the corporate and community partners that have donated over $15,000 to the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund this week as today’s Team Kentucky All-Stars:
- New York Life - $100,000
- United Healthcare Services - $98,750
- Oldham County Fiscal Court - $50,000
- Solaris Diagnosis - $50,000
- CC Metals and Alloys - $25,000
- Fibreform Containers - $25,000
- CSX Transportation - $25,000
- Stantec - $25,000
“There are so many individuals and groups across our commonwealth who have come together to help with recovery efforts in Eastern Kentucky following the devastating flooding,” said Gov. Beshear. “I am so grateful to every single person who has donated or volunteered their time.”
