FEMA denies individual assistance for Knox County following February floods

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Knox County is among six counties that were denied federal individual assistance following severe flooding in February, according to a statement from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Wednesday.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) rejected the state’s request for Individual Assistance for Knox, Butler, Franklin, Laurel, Lawrence and Whitley counties, saying the damage was not of “the severity and magnitude” required to warrant such aid.
“While we are grateful to have received an expedited major disaster declaration that includes some level of public assistance for 68 counties and individual aid for 16 counties, we are disappointed by FEMA’s latest decision,” Beshear said. “We are actively reviewing the assessments and plan to appeal.”
Knox County residents had hoped the designation would bring much-needed relief after widespread flooding damaged homes, roads and infrastructure across the region. The FEMA denial limits access to federal funds that help families recover from uninsured losses, temporary housing needs and other disaster-related expenses.
FEMA also denied Public Assistance funding for infrastructure repairs in Simpson and Woodford counties.
Gov. Beshear is expected to provide an update on the state’s disaster response during his regular Team Kentucky Update on Thursday.
In a separate request, Beshear has asked President Joe Biden for a Major Disaster Declaration related to additional flooding in April. That request, submitted April 11, seeks Individual Assistance for 13 counties and Public Assistance for 33 counties. Knox County is not yet listed among those in the April request, but the governor noted that additional counties could be added as more assessments are completed.
Beshear emphasized the administration’s commitment to ensuring impacted communities get the help they need to recover.
More information about FEMA’s assistance programs can be found at fema.gov.