Governor Andy Beshear noted Thursday afternoon that FEMA officials have agreed to extend the application deadline for individuals who experienced damage and destruction following the state’s horrific bout with severe weather in late December and early January.
It originally would’ve expired February 11, but now that’s been set to Sunday, March 13.
With three ways to apply — online at disasterassistance.gov, through a FEMA mobile application, or by phone at (800) 621-3362 — Beshear again reminded that the only way to become eligible for the Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund is through this FEMA application, regardless of acceptance or denial.
To date, more than $3 million has been dispersed from this relief fund for funerals, while 20% increases of FEMA awards have been doled to uninsured renters and homeowners. Beshear said the next steps for this slip fund include appropriating funds for insured homeowners and renters — and then turning to assisting and bolstering rebuilding efforts, starting with non-profit organizations.
In a February 10 report from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting, fewer than 14% of the 11,800 Kentuckians who applied for FEMA assistance within the first six weeks of the storms were approved. Reportedly more than 4,300 applicants were considered “ineligible” for housing assistance because they missed or couldn’t be contacted for an inspection, and close to 200 applicants were turned down because FEMA officials “couldn’t verify their identity, address or that they owned the damaged property.”
Nearly 2,000 applicants were denied following a withdrawn or duplicated application. Individuals have 60 days after a denial to appeal a decision, and during that time can apply for a Small Business Administration loan.
Meanwhile, Beshear said 66 survivors are pending placement within the state’s new travel trailer program, with 20 private sites and 46 commercial sites being evaluated for safety.
Since January 28, 18 families have been placed in these travel units, with 60 individuals living in them. They’ll serve as intermediate housing while homes and business are rebuilt, and Beshear added that they were purchased to help get families closer to owned property, closer to schools and out of hotel rooms and the state park lodges.
Impacted residents in Caldwell, Graves, Hopkins and Marshall counties are among those who qualify for these trailers — with the application process, again, beginning with FEMA for streamlining purposes.
