Recovery Update – Kentucky Storms

Recovery Progress – More than $16 Million Provided in Kentucky

Kentucky homeowners and renters who sustained losses from the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides from Feb. 27 through March 14 in Breathitt, Clay, Estill, Floyd, Johnson, Lee, Magoffin, Marin and Powell counties may be eligible for  assistance from FEMA.

• FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has paid more than $14.8 million in flood insurance claims in Kentucky. About 600 claims have been submitted. A major disaster declaration is not required for flood insurance to pay. Claims may be submitted from any county.
• For losses not covered by insurance, FEMA has approved more than $1.7 million in Individual Assistance disaster grants for Kentucky homeowners and renters. Grants may help survivors with rent, home repairs, home replacement and other disaster-related needs such as personal property, childcare, and medical and dental expenses. About 320 households have been approved.

How to Get Help from FEMA

• Contact your insurance company and file a claim for the disaster-caused damage.
• By law, FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments or assistance from government programs or charities.
• Take photographs or video of the damage and keep all receipts related to home repair.
• If you have uninsured or underinsured losses, contact FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA app and register on your smartphone or  tablet, or call 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585). The toll-free telephone lines operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Multilingual operators are also available during these hours.
• Those who use a Relay service, such as a videophone, Innocaption or CapTel, should provide their specific number assigned to that service. It is important that FEMA can contact you. Phone calls from FEMA may come from an unidentified number.
• After registering, create an account to check the status of your application, view messages from FEMA, update your personal information, and upload important documents.
• If you have any questions, please contact the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585). The Helpline is the same telephone number as the registration line. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), please call 800-621-3362.

Videos about FEMA Assistance with closed captioning and American Sign Language interpretation available here.

SBA Low-Interest Disaster Loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. Interest rates for homeowners and renters are as low as 1.25 percent, with terms up to 30 years. It is free to apply for a disaster loan, and you are under no obligation to accept a loan if approved. You can also accept a partial amount. Collateral is not required for loans of $25,000 or less. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

• For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339), emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at sba.gov/disaster. To make an appointment for assistance with your disaster loan application, email to FOCE-Help@sba.gov.
• The deadline to apply for an SBA low-interest disaster loan is June 22, 2021 for physical damages and Jan. 24, 2022 for an economic injury disaster loan for small businesses or eligible non-profit organizations.