FRANKFORT, Ky. – Monday, Gov. Beshear asked President Joe Biden to extend the 100% federal cost share to 90 days, instead of 30 days, for the clean-up of the massive damage efforts required to restore Western Kentucky communities impacted by the deadly tornadoes that killed 77 Kentuckians, including 14 children.
“This is an unprecedented request for an unprecedented disaster,” said Gov. Beshear. “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has estimated the total amount of debris to be removed in all counties to be in excess of 4.7 million cubic yards. To date it is estimated that only 3% of the debris has been removed in all counties, and those counties need help lightening the financial burden after many have faced multiple natural disasters over the past year.”
New Year’s Day Tornadoes
Kentucky Emergency Management is reporting nine tornadoes from New Year’s Day have been confirmed, including:
- Christian County, EF-2
- Warren County, EF-0
- Logan and Todd counties, EF-0
- Hart County, EF-0
- Barren County, EF-1
- Taylor County, EF-1
- Marion County, EF-1
- Madison County, EF-1
- Estill County, EF-0
Additional Disaster SNAP Benefits Approved for Kentucky Counties Following Historic Storms, Tornadoes
Gov. Beshear announced last week that Disaster SNAP, or D-SNAP, benefits have been approved for Kentuckians who live or work in 14 counties impacted by the Dec. 10-11 tornadic storms, and two other counties are on standby to be added in the near future. Applications open Jan. 5. If you would not ordinarily qualify for SNAP, you may qualify for D-SNAP if you had a disaster-related expense. To learn more, see the full release.
Disaster Unemployment Insurance Update
Gov. Beshear signed an Executive Order on Dec. 28, 2021 to temporarily suspend the work search requirement and the waiting week period for unemployment insurance (UI) and Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) claimants impacted by the severe weather on Dec. 10, 2021.
“I am happy to report that the United States Department of Labor approved the request. This means UI claimants who are unemployed due to the severe weather that work or live in the 16 counties that are included in the FEMA major disaster declaration will not have to search for work or wait for benefits for their first eligible week. This will include claims starting on Dec. 10 and only in the 16 counties that are under the disaster declaration.”
The updated locations for this week’s unemployment insurance DUA clinics are:
- 262 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, KY
- 351 Charles Drive, Mayfield, KY
They will be open Tuesday through Thursday, Jan. 4-6 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time.
It is not necessary to attend an in-person session if you can do everything online. These sessions are to assist individuals in filling out the application or answering questions. Individuals who became unemployed or those who are self-employed and had work interrupted in the sixteen Kentucky counties as a direct result of the severe storms on Dec. 10, 2021, are eligible to apply for DUA benefits through the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance. The deadline to apply for assistance in Barren and Marion counties is Jan. 27, 2022. For updated information on DUA, go to kcc.ky.gov.