This week marks the six-month anniversary of the December 10 & 11 tornadoes that rampaged across the Commonwealth, and since, some relief has arrived and rebuilding begun.
During his Thursday “Team Kentucky” Update, Gov. Andy Beshear announced a sixth wave of awarded monies from the West Kentucky State Aid Funding for Emergencies pool — some of which will impact the hard-hit Dawson Springs community.
Of the $16.3 million released in this transaction, $1.2 million will pay for land survey costs for the city — which much like Mayfield, Bremen and Princeton — bore the brunt of an EF-4 twister.
More than $37 million has now been paid out from SAFE’s reserves, which will continue to help cover costs of services that aren’t eligible for FEMA support and to ease some of the financial strains incurred during this rebuilding and clean-up process.
More than $80 million remains to be distributed on an as-needed basis for west Kentucky, which in the long-term needs funds in perpetuity to assist with unforeseen road blocks.
At this juncture of west Kentucky’s restoration, more than $52 million has been raised through the Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund, while federal, state and Red Cross disaster assistance efforts have totaled nearly a quarter billion dollars — with nearly 2,600 displaced individuals housed in emergency programs.
The Kentucky Parks System provided long-term shelter to more than 800, as well as 250 first-responders, and now more than 580 people have been placed in brand-new travel trailers and hotels.
Since December 10 & 11, the Red Cross has helped secure more than 100,000 meals, while local, regional, state and national organizations — religious and secular — have coalesced for clean up, care and comfort needs for families.
Considered a major disaster in 16 west Kentucky counties, more than 640 disaster loans have already been approved through the U.S. Small Business Administration for homeowners, renters and business looking to immediately regroup and rebuild.
More than 2.5 million cubic yards of debris — or 250,000 heavy truck loads — has been removed in 19 counties, with more to go.
Beshear, however, noted it was important to review the positive and massive amount of work that’s been done since the disaster.
To date, 81 deaths have been attributed to these storms.
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