More than $95.7 million in federal assistance has been provided in areas of Kentucky effected by the federal disaster declaration following tornadoes in December.
The funds have been provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration with an eye toward supporting disaster recovery, according to the Sept. 8 FEMA news release.
"That figure includes more than $15.8 million in housing assistance and other essential disaster-related needs and more than $59.3 million in SBA low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses," the news release said.
There have been 16 counties designated for the federal assistance through FEMA's Individuals and Households Program, including Barren, Caldwell, Christian, Fulton, Graves, Hart, Hickman, Hopkins, Logan, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Taylor and Warren. About $11.5 million was earmarked for housing assistance while about $4.4 million paid for essential household items and other critical disaster-related needs, according to the release.
Currently, 80 area families are participating in FEMA's Direct Temporary Housing program in Caldwell, Graves, Hopkins, Marshall, Muhlenberg and Warren counties. According to the release, 12 families have moved out of FEMA temporary housing into permanent homes.
More than $59 million went into 647 disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses while more than $50 million funded home loans and more than $9 million funded business loans, the release reported.
FEMA's Public Assistance program helps communities with costs for repair, rebuilding and emergency work, including reimbursements for debris removal, damaged roads and infrastructure, according to the release. The program now is funding 692 projects in Kentucky and 23 counties in the state are eligible: Barren, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Caldwell, Christian, Fulton, Graves, Grayson, Hart, Hickman, Hopkins, Logan, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, Meade, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Shelby, Spencer, Taylor, Todd and Warren.
FEMA teams are still "actively engaged" with local governments in Kentucky to identify long-term recovery needs, the news release said.
