Kentucky’s death toll from the May 16-17 tornadoes remains at 19, while eight people are still hospitalized, Gov. Andy Beshear said during a Team Kentucky Update May 22.
Of the eight people hospitalized, three are in critical condition, one is in serious condition, and four are deemed to be in good condition, Beshear said.
Beshear said state officials are “working as hard and fast as we can” to get approval for individual assistance funds, but have not yet received word from the federal government. The governor said he has had calls with President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem regarding federal assistance efforts.
“I told (Trump) that the (Federal Emergency Management Agency) team that he had on the ground for the other two natural disasters (in February and April) was operating very well,” Beshear said. ” I hope that’s a sign they will sign off on the application for individual and public assistance, because we certainly need their help.”
In a joint statement issued May 22, members of Kentucky’s congressional delegation said they sent a letter to Trump expressing support for Beshear’s request for federal disaster funding following the recent tornadoes.
“We urge your swift approval of federal disaster assistance to help Kentucky communities begin the process of recovering and rebuilding,” the legislators wrote.
Power and water access has been restored to most Kentuckians who lost it during the May tornadoes, Beshear said. No reports of missing persons from the severe storms are currently being investigated by Kentucky State Police Post 11, which covers Laurel and Pulaski counties.
Some residents remain housed in temporary shelters, including 14 people at American Red Cross shelters and 40 in Airbnbs, as well as 31 staying in shelters at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park.
State officials have also set up 90 travel trailers for displaced residents at Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park in Laurel County. Beshear said he hopes the commonwealth can obtain at least 100 trailers for residents in need. The 90 acquired thus far came from Louisiana.
More: Maps show EF-4 tornado’s nearly 56-mile path through Laurel, Pulaski, Russell counties
While individual and unemployment assistance has been approved and application deadlines have been set for Kentucky residents affected by the February and April severe storms, Beshear said the state’s application for public assistance from the January winter storms had been denied.
“We believe that we meet all of the statutory thresholds. We’ll be appealing that denial,” Beshear said. “If it ultimately ends in a denial, it will be tens of millions of dollars of additional expense for the commonwealth that otherwise FEMA would be covering.”
More: 1,500 buildings damaged, $59M in cleanup: Beshear seeks federal help after KY tornadoes
Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at [email protected] or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Andy Beshear provides update on May tornadoes, Kentucky requests for disaster funds
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