"The next thing we’ve got to see, is them saying ‘yes’ in instances where they may have said ‘no’ in the past, provided that they have the statutory or regulatory authority to do so,” Beshear said Tuesday. He’s also leading the state’s recovery from deadly tornadoes that devastated several towns in western Kentucky last December. The governor has plenty of experience dealing with FEMA. And they’ve told us that everybody denied is going to get a call from their national office.” “That’s being willing to open up people’s claims again at the mobile registration site. “And every time we see one of those, that’s a good thing," he said. The governor said at his statehouse briefing Tuesday that he's seeing encouraging signs in the FEMA response in Appalachia. And if it requires any reprogramming permission, I'm sure that will be granted.” “There are plenty of funds around that are not normally there as a result of the COVID response. “I think it's going to require assistance beyond what's normally available,” McConnell said during one of his stops. McConnell said he hopes “red-tape problems” don't surface in getting residents the relief they need. Paul urged Biden and Beshear to issue waivers authorizing the use of unspent COVID-19 relief funds to help rebuild disaster-stricken areas. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul visited flood-affected areas in their home state Tuesday. That means finding people temporary lodging where they “can stretch out a little bit” and get the long-term assistance they need to rebuild, he said. Once the latest storms have passed, officials hope to move from “emergency mode to stabilization mode,” the governor said. He added: “Once we get all of the private contractors up and running, people are going to see a huge difference very quickly.” Power outages were down to about 370 customers, while about 6,600 service connections remained without water, he said.ĭebris removal efforts are moving forward, Beshear said. More than 500 people left homeless by the disaster are staying in emergency shelters or at state parks, Beshear said. Perry County (Spectrum News 1/Jonathon Gregg) Authorities expect to add at least one other death to the total, the governor said. "Folks have been through too much.”Īt least 37 people have died since last month’s deluge, which dropped 8 to 10-1/2 inches of rain in only 48 hours. “The next two days are of significant concern," Beshear said. A flood watch was in effect for the region until Wednesday evening, the National Weather Service said. “For folks that are wiped out, for folks that without it can’t get back on their feet.”Īs the cleanup of staggering amounts of debris continued, eastern Kentucky braced for the potential for heavy rainfall that could unleash more flash flooding. “This is what FEMA’s supposed to be there for,” the governor said. “Or is it going to be an example where people are excited when they come in but even more deflated when they leave?”īeshear said the federal government has said “yes to just about every major program that we’ve asked for,” but said FEMA should do more to help more residents recover. “I believe that this is the natural disaster where we are going to see, is FEMA going to get it right?” Beshear said Tuesday at a news conference.
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