Less than 48 hours after Hopkinsville’s EF2 tornado touched ground, Governor Andy Beshear filed a request for a 60-day extension on the ongoing 100% reimbursement for costs associated with storm debris removal and emergency protective measures for communities hardest-hit by severe weather December 10 and 11.
Now, Beshear’s official plea has Kentucky’s federal delegation backing the call.
U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Rand Paul and Representatives Hal Rogers (KY-05), John Yarmuth (KY-03), Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Andy Barr (KY-06), Thomas Massie
(KY-04) and James Comer (KY-01) all signed a joint letter Tuesday afternoon issued to President Joe Biden — expressing support for the governor’s words, while expressing concerns that the current 30-day period may not be enough time to complete the debris removal necessary for 16 disaster-declared counties, as well as another 15 counties that have experienced damage then and since through severe weather.
The letter goes on to mention that some of the same counties impacted by those December 10 and 11 storms and tornadoes are facing new challenges, with new debris and power outages created by new twisters, torrential rain and winds, and flash flooding. This delegation has been notified by state and local officials across the Commonwealth of the growing concern that debris removal crews may not be available to clear the vast refuse in time for federal dollars to support it.
Kentucky officials are seeking extended federal assistance when other parts of the country are experiencing major concerns — particularly in Colorado, where a speedy wildfire has done massive damage to 1,000-plus buildings near Boulder.
