Gov. Beshear: Additional Assistance Denied for Severe Storms in April, May

FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 30, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has denied Individual Assistance for two counties and Public Assistance for one county affected by the severe storms and tornadoes that hit Kentucky May 16-17, 2025. The Governor shared that the state will appeal this decision.

In a letter to the Governor, FEMA wrote, “Based on the results of the joint Preliminary Damage Assessments, it has been determined that the impact to the individuals and households in Christian and Todd Counties is not of the severity and magnitude to warrant their designation under the Individual Assistance program.”

The FEMA letter also states, “In addition, it has been determined that the impact to the infrastructure in Leslie County is not of the severity and magnitude to warrant their designation under the Public Assistance program.”

Additionally, FEMA has denied Gov. Beshear’s requests for the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Program for both the April flooding and the May tornadoes. FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance provides funding for eligible long-term solutions that reduce the impact of disasters in the future. The letter denying the request for the April 2025 weather event can be found here.

“While we appreciate the Individual Assistance and Public Assistance we were granted for most of the affected areas, we are disappointed in the decision,” said Gov. Beshear. “We are actively comparing the damage assessments, and we plan to appeal.”

Click here to learn more about FEMA’s Public Assistance program, which provides supplemental grants to state, tribal, territorial and local governments, as well as certain types of private nonprofit organizations, so communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters.

Click here to learn more about FEMA’s Individual Assistance program, which provides financial assistance and direct services to eligible individuals and households affected by a disaster.

How To Help Survivors
The Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund was established after the severe weather in February and will serve survivors of that and additional natural disasters. As with previous relief funds, these dollars will first help pay for victims’ funeral expenses. To donate, click here.