FRANKFORT, Ky. – FEMA has approved more than $3.3 million in federal funding to reimburse the City of Bowling Green for debris removal as a result of the Dec. 10-11, 2021, tornadoes.
FEMA has approved $2,074,369 for debris removal throughout the city between Dec. 27, 2021, and Jan. 25, 2022. Contractors removed 110,438 cubic yards of vegetative debris and 48,457 cubic yards of construction and demolition debris, which includes parts of buildings, lumber, roofing material, concrete and other materials.
Also removed were 156 leaning trees, 102 hanging limbs and 4 stumps that were determined to pose a threat to public health and safety were also removed in the city.
Public Assistance is a cost-sharing program. Because of the magnitude of damage from the tornadoes, President Biden in January 2022 authorized a cost share adjustment to 100% federal funding for debris removal for a 30-day period of the commonwealth’s choosing (Dec. 27 – Jan. 25).
FEMA has also approved an additional $1,252,659 for the collection, reduction and disposal of debris that took place Dec. 12, 2021, to Dec. 26, 2021, and Jan. 27, 2022, to March 15, 2022. Contractors collected approximately 23,559 cubic yards of vegetative debris and 13,098 cubic yards of construction and demolition debris.
In addition, 93 hanging limbs, 33 hazardous leaning trees and 28 stumps that were determined to pose a threat to public health and safety were also removed.
This project was funded at a 90% cost share. This means FEMA reimburses applicants at 90% of eligible costs with the remaining 10% covered by the commonwealth. The federal share is paid directly to the commonwealth to disburse to agencies, local governments and the nonprofit organizations that incurred costs.
FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides grants to state, tribal, and local governments, and certain types of private nonprofit organizations including some houses of worship, so that communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies.
For more information on Kentucky’s recovery from the tornadoes, visit fema.gov/disaster/4630. Follow FEMA on Twitter at FEMA Region 4 (@femaregion4) / Twitter and at facebook.com/fema.