Important Deadlines & Reminders Application Period for FEMA Assistance Ends for Kentuckians Affected by February Storms.

President Donald J. Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Kentucky

FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance is available to the commonwealth of Kentucky to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides beginning on April 2, and continuing.

The president’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Anderson, Butler, Carroll, Christian, Clark, Franklin, Hardin, Hopkins, Jessamine, McCracken, Mercer, Owen and Woodford counties.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Additional designations may be made later if requested by the commonwealth and warranted by the results of further assessments.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance. To apply:

• Register online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
• Visit any Disaster Recovery Center. To find a center close to you, visit fema.gov/DRC or text DRC along with your ZIP Code to 43362 (Example: “DRC 29169”).
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362. It is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. Help is available in many languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, provide FEMA with the number for that service.
• Download the FEMA App.

Disaster assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster. The assistance is intended to meet basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts.

When applying for FEMA assistance, specify the damage and the date it occurred to ensure you are applying under the correct declaration number. If you were affected by multiple disasters, you should apply separately for each disaster. When two or more disasters are declared in the same state, FEMA ensures survivors receive all assistance they're eligible for while preventing duplication of federal benefits. 

For more information, visit fema.gov/disaster/4864.

FEMA Update on North Carolina Recovery Efforts

Since Tropical Storm Helene devastated parts of Western North Carolina in September 2024, FEMA staff have been working with state and local partners to help communities recover as infrastructure is being rebuilt.

FEMA has obligated more than $450 million in Public Assistance funding for 370 projects to help with debris removal and emergency repairs to roads, bridges, water systems and electrical cooperatives.

“The state and FEMA continue to work together to provide the much-needed assistance to those communities impacted by Tropical Storm Helene and to help them with the costs associated with responding to this unprecedented storm,” said North Carolina Emergency Management Director Will Ray. “We recognize there is a long road ahead, but through a whole of community approach, we will get there.”

Since January, state and local organizations have received FEMA grants, including:

• French Broad Electric Membership Corporation: $8,694,790 for costs of restoring emergency power. The funding reimburses the utility for work in Buncombe, Haywood, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell and Yancey counties. Emergency work included restoration of gauges, poles, transformers, conductor wires, crossarms and associated hardware as well as removal of debris affecting the power system.
• North Carolina Highway Patrol: $3,352,651 for costs for emergency protective measures, including personnel overtime, evacuations, water rescues, placement of barricades and transportation of supplies for the public.
• North Carolina Department of Transportation: $33 million for emergency replacement of public bridges in Alleghany, Ashe, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Haywood, Henderson, McDowell, Mitchell, Yancey and Watauga counties.
• Town of Spruce Pine: $2,609,254 for permanent repairs to the wastewater treatment plant.
• Town of Burnsville: $1,160,571 for emergency protective measures, including establishment of a temporary raw water intake system.
• Madison County: $1,636,697 for emergency protective measures, including placement of six modular units at the Sprinkle Shelton Building and the Madison County Courthouse.
• Town of Spruce Pine: $1,845,849 for permanent repairs at the Riverside Park pedestrian bridge.
• Rutherford County: $7,643,529 for debris removal.
• Cleveland County: $3,854,825 for debris removal.
• Town of Biltmore Forest: $2,022,931 for debris removal.
• North Carolina Emergency Management: $6,709,159 for personnel, contractual support and other support expenses.

For the latest information about North Carolina’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4827.

National Incident Management System Intelligence and Investigations Function Guidance Updated

Local, state, tribal and territorial emergency managers can now use FEMA’s updated National Incident Management System (NIMS) Intelligence/Investigations Function Guidance to gather, analyze and share information to prepare for and respond to emergencies. NIMS enables organizations from across the nation to work together during incidents of all kinds and sizes. Implementing NIMS nationwide is a fundamental part of building our national preparedness.

The NIMS Intelligence/Investigations Function Guidance supports emergency response and recovery operations by providing procedures for gathering, analyzing and sharing information. It updates the initial guidance, published in 2013, with recommendations from law enforcement stakeholders and experts from various jurisdictional levels, gathered over the past two years by FEMA’s National Integration Center and its Law Enforcement Working Group partners.

To see how your organization can use the new guidance, visit NIMS Implementation and Training | FEMA.gov.

Important Deadlines and Reminders

Deadline to Apply for FEMA Assistance Extended to May 25 for Kentucky Homeowners and Renters Affected by February Storms

Kentucky homeowners and renters who suffered uninsured or underinsured damage to their property from the February severe storms, flooding and straight-line winds now have a few additional weeks to apply for disaster assistance. FEMA has extended the application deadline to Sunday, May 25.

FEMA assistance for individuals affected by the severe weather can cover rental assistance, temporary housing, home repairs, personal property losses and other disaster-related needs not covered by insurance. Money from FEMA does not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

Survivors are encouraged to file insurance claims for damage to their homes, personal property and vehicles before they apply for FEMA assistance. FEMA Individual Assistance cannot duplicate insurance benefits or other sources of assistance.

There are four ways to apply for FEMA assistance: 

• Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov.
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Services (VRS), captioned telephone or other services, give FEMA your number for that service. 
• Download the FEMA App.
• Visit a Disaster Recovery Center. To find a Disaster Recovery Center, visit fema.gov/DRC or text DRC along with your ZIP Code to 43362 (Example: “DRC 29169”).

To view an accessible video on how to apply for assistance, visit Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance - YouTube.

Disaster Recovery Centers are physically accessible to people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. They are equipped with assistive technology and other resources to ensure all applicants can access resources.

For more information, visit fema.gov/disaster/4860.

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