Beshear: FEMA taking more steps to help flood victims

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) — As many who were impacted by deadly flooding more than two weeks ago await assistance, others say they’ve flat-out been denied.

State leaders continue to urge people not to give up.

As of Monday afternoon, the death toll remained at 39 across 12 counties. Two people are still missing from Breathitt County.

The state continues to move through three major phases including emergency, stabilization and rebuilding. According to Gov. Andy Beshear, one of the main hurdles is feeding those in emergency shelters.

The state has now brought in 94 travel trailers to help with temporary housing. There are still dozens of power outages — more than 70 are still without electricity and more than 4,700 still don’t have water.

The state says a big issue is making sure those who need assistance receive it

“For the first time anywhere in America, we believe they are starting a texting program. We know that some people don’t have cell phone service in different parts where they may live or travel so a text will give you that FEMA number to call to try and connect you to an appointment,” said Beshear.

State leaders say even if you’ve been denied by FEMA to keep trying.

There are a couple of reasons why people have been denied assistance. According to FEMA, some applications are still pending and may be denied because they’ve either been filled out incorrectly or are missing information.

Remember, FEMA assistance is not the same as insurance. Also, secondary residences won’t be approved for FEMA assistance.

Another possible reason for denial: you live in a county not covered by the Federal Disaster Declaration.

“FEMA assistance is really designed to be able to help with your immediate needs after a disaster, like improve your temporary housing, give you temporary housing for a few nights, make initial repairs to your home, but not everyone who receives FEMA will have it cover all their loses. It’s not designed to do; that it’s designed for safe, sanitary and secure and we are trying to reach as many people as possible,” said a FEMA representative on the phone.

Right now, FEMA has more than 800 workers on the ground in Kentucky and there are 22 disaster assistance teams in the state, going door-to-door and in shelters.

If you’ve been denied, you’re encouraged to talk to a FEMA representative in person.