FEMA has denied individual assistance for people in Christian and Todd counties from tornadoes in May, and the governor plans to appeal that decision.
Andy Beshear says a letter to him from FEMA officials says that after joint preliminary damage assessments, it was determined the impact to the people and households in Christian and Todd Counties was not of the severity and magnitude to warrant designation under the Individual Assistance program.
The National Weather Service confirmed two EF-2 tornadoes struck the counties on May 16.
A tornado with peak winds of 120 MPH began on Shaw Ovil Road in Christian County and continued east into Todd County, crossing Kentucky 189 and eventually lifting to the west of Kentucky 181.
The survey says the worst damage occurred along Blue Hole Road, where several chicken houses were destroyed and a mobile home was swept away.
Dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted, and a few outbuildings were damaged.
A second tornado with peak winds of 118 MPH touched down along Kentucky 164 in Christian County, just north of I-24, and caused some shingle damage to a house and pretty significant damage to a couple of barns.
The tornado continued east, uprooting or snapping dozens of trees along its path. Many homes experienced mainly roof damage along River Bend Road and Westminster Place. Some damage to a house and outbuildings was reported along Harry Berry Lane.
In addition, FEMA denied the governor’s requests for the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Program for both the April flooding and the May tornadoes. That program provides funding for eligible long-term solutions that reduce the impact of disasters in the future.
Beshear says they were disappointed with denials and plan to appeal after compiling more information on damages to the affected areas.
