Area counties included in federal disaster declaration

By TONY FYFFE

BSN Editor

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Lawrence, Johnson, Floyd and Martin counties are included in a federal disaster declaration issued last Wednesday, March 31, by President Joe Biden stemming from winter storms that hit the state in February.

Biden approved Gov. Andy Beshear’s request for federal assistance for damage caused by severe winter storms Feb. 8 through Feb. 19, making federal funding available to state, eligible local governments and certain non-profits on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of property damaged by the storms.

Funding will also be available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the entire state, according to a press release from the White House.

Lawrence, Johnson, Floyd and Martin are among 44 counties included in the declaration, which was sought by Beshear on March 19.

“This declaration will make sure Kentuckians and our communities have the necessary resources to rebuild after the devastating ice storm that hit in February,” Beshear said. “Thank you to President Biden and FEMA for their assistance, and thank you to the many state and local agencies and organizations who are leading the recovery and rebuilding efforts in our hard-hit communities.”

The winter storm system produced heavy rain, hail, sleet, freezing rain, ice, and bitter artic air, which caused impassable roadways, massive power outages, water system failures, landslides, mudslides and disruption of critical government services.

The ice storm produced from the weather system left 154,500 Kentucky homes without power at the height of the event. In the Big Sandy region, more than 51,000 Kentucky Power Company customers were without electricity by Feb. 16, while 8,500 Big Sandy RECC customers lost power by the same date.

The National Weather Service said that 3 to 5 inches of snow and 0.2 to 0.4 inches of ice were reported in Lawrence County during the weather event.

Other snowfall totals in the region included 4 inches at Thelma in Johnson County, 2 inches in Paintsville, 3.5 inches in Prestonsburg and 3.8 inches in Inez.

Freezing rain accumulations included 0.50 inches at Stambaugh in Johnson County, 0.25 inches at Bays Branch in Floyd County and 0.33 inches in Inez, the National Weather Service said.

Last week’s declaration does not cover devastating flooding that occurred in Kentucky in early March, which will be part of a separate assistance request.