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From Kentucky Today

Written by Tom Latek

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) posted a public notice on Thursday that describes FEMA’s proposed funding for Kentucky remnants of Hurricane Helene work projects that may adversely affect historic properties, floodplains or wetlands; or may result in continuing vulnerability of these areas to flood damage.

By law, FEMA is required to announce its intent to provide federal assistance and grant opportunities under its Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant programs, after the Nov. 26, 2024, major disaster declaration for Kentucky due to the remnants of Hurricane Helene.

The major disaster declaration authorizes FEMA to provide, under its Public Assistance Program, reimbursement or direct federal assistance for emergency and permanent work to eligible state and local agencies and certain private nonprofits affected by the Sept. 27-30, 2024,remnants of Hurricane Helene in 34 designated Kentucky counties.

They are Anderson, Bath, Bell, Bourbon, Bracken, Breathitt, Carter, Clark, Clay, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Franklin, Greenup, Harlan, Harrison, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Lee, Letcher, Lewis, Magoffin, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owsley, Powell, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Washington, and Wolfe.

Federal funding also is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

For more information about these actions or a specific project, write to FEMA Region 4, 3005 Chamblee Tucker Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4112.

You may also email FEMA-R4EHP@fema.dhs.gov. Include in the email subject line, “DR-4848-KY EHAD.” Comments should be sent in writing within 30 days of the date of the public notice.

For the latest information on the Kentucky remnants of Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4848.

While Hurricane Helene, a category 4 storm, caused historic, catastrophic damage across the southeastern United States, according to the National Weather Service wind gusts up to 65 miles per hour were reported across Kentucky.

The Kentucky Association of Counties says the heavy rainfall and high winds resulted in thousands of downed power lines and hundreds of broken utility poles, leaving more than 250,000 Kentucky homes and businesses without electricity. Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities described Helene as the fourth-largest weather event to impact their customers over the past 20 years.