Gov. Andy Beshear gives the State of the Commonwealth address. Photo courtesy of the Kentucky Lantern by Arden Barnes
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
All eight members of Kentucky’s congressional delegation signed a letter sent to President Donald Trump in support of Governor Andy Beshear’s request for an expedited Major Disaster Declaration due to the severe flooding throughout the commonwealth.
On Feb. 15, Trump approved the request for a disaster declaration authorizing the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency to “coordinate all disaster relief efforts” to relieve flooding hardship. Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd recently declared a county state of emergency, which would allow state and federal assistance. The assistance would primarily be for road repairs and maintenance.
“The upgraded request for an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration would extend federal assistance to all impacted counties that meet the threshold for public and individual assistance,” a press release for U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers’ office states.
Kentucky’s delegation sent this letter as Beshear is asking the General Assembly the lift a spending cap it imposed on state agencies and their responding to emergencies, saying “we’re there” on the funding cap, according to the Kentucky Lantern.
In a press release from the governor’s office this morning, Beshear said he had thanked the delegation for their support saying that “federal assistance is essential for flood survivors to recover and rebuild.”
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