Gov. Beshear provided an update on recent flooding, as well as Eastern Kentucky’s recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Last week, many communities across the commonwealth experienced a variety of severe weather events that led several cities to declare a state of emergency due to damages bought by the storm. Kentucky Emergency Management monitored the events and are working with counties impacted across the state to submit damage assessments.

The Governor encourages those who need help to call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990.

Currently, 208 families are housed in travel trailers. Kentucky State Parks are now housing 20 people, down from the 360 people sheltered on Sept. 1, 2022.

As of this week, over $10 million in awards have been approved for the buy-out program. The awards account for 61 properties from Perry County, the City of Jackson, Breathitt County and newly approved Letcher County applicants. Homeowners wishing to learn more about the program should contact their local judge/executive or emergency management office for more information.

If flood victims need help, they should call FEMA directly or visit a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC). MARCs are now on a rotating schedule, which consists of two onsite personnel and one remote support person as needed. The staff will rotate from county to county each day. 

The Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund has raised over $13.1 million from more than 41,500 donors. 

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The Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services (NKCES) will receive $13,263,481 over five years, and the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative (OVEC) will receive $5,281,577 over five years.

NKCES will use the funding to increase the number of school-based mental health service providers and the number of students receiving school-based mental health services by hiring 10 providers in the first year and 20 in succeeding years.

This will impact over 65,000 students in Northern Kentucky.

OVEC will use the funds to help alleviate the shortage of mental health professionals serving K-12 students for several school districts in north-central Kentucky by recruiting and hiring 12 new certified school counselors.

The 12 chosen candidates will be distributed among 10 districts. This will impact over 47,000 K-12 students in Northern Central Kentucky.

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These conditions include:

• Cannabis must be bought in the United States of America in a state where the purchase is legal and regulated. Kentuckians will need to keep their receipt.
• The amount a person can purchase and possess at any one time must not exceed 8 ounces, which is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony in Kentucky.
• Each Kentuckian must also have a certification from a licensed health care provider that shows that the individual has been diagnosed with at least one of 21 medical conditions. A copy of the certification must be retained.

The Governor said that guidance is being created for law enforcement to determine quickly and accurately who does and does not qualify.

Gov. Beshear also that he will work with lawmakers this upcoming session to push for full legalization of medical cannabis once again, which would further provide relief for those suffering, fuel job growth and support Kentucky’s farmers.

The Governor also announced that the state will regulate the sale of Delta 8. Delta 8 contains THC, but at a lower level than marijuana. It is not a controlled substance in Kentucky nor under federal law, and a court has ruled that it is legal in Kentucky.

The executive orders come after Gov. Beshear formed the Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee in June to travel the state and listen to Kentuckians’ views on the topic after the state legislature failed to pass legislation earlier this year. On Sept. 30, the Governor released the summary from the committee that proved Kentuckians agree that it is past time for the commonwealth to take action on legalizing medical cannabis.

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Gov. Beshear presented a ceremonial check for $98,842 to the City of Louisa for the construction of a pedestrian/bike path and new sidewalk that will connect local schools, athletic facilities, health care providers and neighborhoods.

The funding is from the federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and is administered by the Department of Rural and Municipal Aid of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC).

The project will stretch nearly four-tenths of a mile at 10-feet wide, beginning at Louisa Middle School as an asphalt bike/pedestrian path, running along Kentucky Highway 644 to its intersection with Meadowbrook Lane, at which point the path transitions to a 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the north side of Meadowbrook to its intersection with Gene Wilson Boulevard and along Gene Wilson to Pearl Street.

Gov. Beshear also presented a ceremonial check to the City of Louisa for $750,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The money is for renovations to the Louisa Volunteer Fire Station at 215 N. Main Street.

Gov. Beshear presented a ceremonial check to Lawrence County representing $750,000 in CDBG funds to help construct a new fire station at 999 Highway 469 in Martha. The new facility will include two vehicle bays, a kitchenette, a training and meeting room, an office and restroom facilities. The primary service area of the station covers approximately 119 square miles and 1,456 households.

Gov. Beshear also announced his approval of $867,000 in Cleaner Water Program funds to the Big Sandy Water District. The funds will help install over four miles of new water lines in Lawrence County along KY 1690, Pleasant Valley, Meades Branch, Jude Hollow, Brushy Road, Oakley Road and Nelson Road. The new lines will serve 58 currently unserved households.

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Each year a special ceremony is held to publicly honor the recipients and others who have given to their communities through volunteering and service, without expectation of reward or commendation.

To honor individuals and groups and to highlight the impact of volunteerism and service, Serve Kentucky, an agency of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, is accepting nominations on behalf of the Office of the Governor. The award nomination deadline is Friday, Sept. 30.

Volunteer service must have been performed in Kentucky, serving primarily Kentuckians. Individuals and groups may be nominated in only one category.

Self-nominations are accepted. Award categories spotlight the contributions of individuals, businesses and groups. Volunteer Awards include youth, adult, senior, and veteran. Group awards include general, nonprofit and faith-based. Other categories honor national service such as AmeriCorps and lifetime achievement.

Award winners from the previous five years are ineligible for this year’s awards.

Independent panels of reviewers score nominations using an assigned judging worksheet. The awards committee will consider top-scoring nominations in each category and will collectively decide the winners.

Gov. Andy Beshear released the following statement:

“Through some of the most challenging times in our history, which involved the recent flooding and mudslides in Eastern Kentucky; last December’s storms and tornadoes in Western Kentucky; a once-in-a-century pandemic and other natural disasters, Kentuckians have continued to be there for one another. I urge Kentuckians to nominate someone they know who deserves our gratitude and appreciation for all their hard work and service to others.”

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1. FEMA is calling everyone who has been denied. Because of this, the Governor encouraged Kentuckians affected by flooding to answer their phones when called, even if it’s from an unfamiliar number.
2. For the first time ever, FEMA has implemented a texting program. The agency will soon be able to communicate with flood-impacted Kentuckians via text message to help speed communications and appointments.
3. FEMA staff at the Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) now has the authority to approve claims onsite. FEMA says they have additional appointments available and encouraged Kentuckians to visit one of the DRC locations. For a full list of DRC locations that provide both state and federal resources in one place to best serve flood victims, visit governor.ky.gov/FloodResources and click the “One-Stop Resource Locations” tab. Unless otherwise noted, DRCs are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
4. In at least some of the mobile units that are traveling home-to-home there may be a FEMA representative who can give approval on a claim onsite.

Governor Beshear released the following statement:

“This is critically important as we move forward, and I appreciate the extra steps FEMA is taking. I urge flood victims to have all documentation on hand in case their application can be approved during a DRC appointment or onsite property visit. Everyone in this situation wants to do better, including FEMA. My goal is to be relentless in pushing for more help for Kentuckians, and I want to thank FEMA for taking these new steps – steps we’ve never seen before – to help more people.”

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State officials said that these funds will be administered by the Department for Local Government.

Gov. Beshear said:

“These investments show we are prioritizing outdoor spaces across the commonwealth to benefit our families. The awards presented today in Bourbon County will not only make a difference for Kentuckians, but they will also help this community continue to grow in the years to come.”

Bourbon County Park: Court Sports

Gov. Beshear presented a $200,000 LWCF grant to Bourbon County that will go toward building a court sports facility at Bourbon County Park. With the help of this grant, the county will develop two outdoor tennis courts, two outdoor basketball courts and one to two pickleball court(s).

The grant will be accompanied by a multi-million dollar investment by the county to construct baseball, softball, soccer and football fields, running and walking tracks, playgrounds, restroom and concession facilities, an agriculture and equine center, fairgrounds and more. These funds will hasten the court sports facility project and lessen the financial burden for Bourbon County.

Bourbon County Park: Walking and Jogging Trail

In addition to the $200,000 LWCF grant, Gov. Beshear also presented a $68,810 RTP grant to Bourbon County to build an 8-foot wide, .26-mile-long walking/jogging trail at Bourbon County Park. The path will create a continuous loop that will border a section of court sports within the park.

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Gov. Beshear previously announced the BSSC provided approximately $6.1 million in funds and credits during fiscal year 2021, which helped provide training to nearly 18,300 Kentucky workers.

Gov. Beshear released the following statement:

“In Kentucky, we understand that to create the economy of the future, you must first establish a pipeline for a skilled workforce to meet the needs of key industries.

With today’s announcement, the state has provided assistance for well over 35,000 Kentuckians to get the training they need, nearly doubling the number of individuals who benefited from this program during the previous fiscal year.

We are showing a commitment to our state’s future, and that starts with our incredibly talented and motivated workforce.”

For more information on BSSC or to apply for workforce training assistance, visit ced.ky.gov/workforce/BSSC.

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