Furniture distribution aids Rockcastle, more in-person assistance set

MT. VERNON, Ky. (WTVQ) – It’s been four months since flooding left thousands of Eastern Kentucky residents literally with little more than the clothes on their back.

And despite widespread relief efforts by community groups, churches, and state and federal agencies, some people still are recovering and rebuilding.

To help that process, the Christian Appalachian Project was in Mount Vernon in Rockcastle County distributing furniture and other household items to flood victims Thursday.

Dozens of victims were able to pick from everything from dining room tables to kitchen supplies. It’s part of months of relief efforts the group and it volunteers and partners have carried out across the region.

Meanwhile, Kentucky homeowners and renters in the 31 counties who had property damage or loss caused by the severe storms from Feb. 27 to March 14 can visit FEMA Individual Assistance Registration Support Centers to get face-to-face help.

The counties are Anderson, Breathitt, Boyd, Clark, Clay, Estill, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Greenup, Jackson, Jessamine, Johnson, Knott, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lincoln, Madison, Magoffin, Martin, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Warren and Woodford.

The centers will be open June 16-18 in Clay County and June 17-19 in Floyd and Lee counties. FEMA staff will be available to help with registration, answer questions about appeals and scan documents into applicants’ case files.

 Open Thursday and Friday, June 17–18:

• Clay County Community Center: 311 Highway 638, Manchester, KY 40962

Open Thursday to Saturday, June 17–19:

• Floyd County Community Center: 7199 Kentucky Highway 80, Langley, KY 41645
• Lee County Community Center: 500 Happy Top Road, Beattyville, KY 41311

Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. No appointments are necessary.

Circumstances may lead to a change in locations and times of operation for the centers. Find out the latest information at Registration Support Centers Open | FEMA.gov.

So far, more than $26 million in federal assistance has been provided in Kentucky. That includes:

• FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has paid more than $18.9 million in flood insurance claims in Kentucky. Some 630 claims have been submitted. (A major disaster declaration is not required for flood-insurance claims, which may be submitted from any county.)
• For losses not covered by insurance, FEMA has approved more than $4.5 million in Individual Assistance disaster grants for Kentucky homeowners and renters. Grants may help survivors with rent, home repairs, home replacement and other disaster-and dental expenses.More than 780 households have been approved.
• The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved 64 low-interest disaster loans for more than$3 million.

For more information on Kentucky’s disaster recovery, visit https://kyem.ky.gov and www.fema.gov/disaster/4595. You may also follow FEMA on www.facebook.com/fema and  Twitter @FEMARegion4.