Flood Response: Executive Actions

​​​​​​​​​​Below is a list of executive actions taken by Governor Beshear and his administration in the wake of severe storms, flooding and mudslides that began July 26, 2022.

07/28/2022

​​Gov. Beshear issued an executive or​​der declaring a state of e​mergency due to severe flooding in Eastern Kentucky. The order activating the state's Emergency Operations Center and allowed the Adjutant General of Kentucky to mobilize the National Guard.


​Gov. Beshear issued an executive order activating Kentucky's price-gouging laws to protect consumers in the wake of the flooding in Eastern Kentucky.

​The Governor sent a letter to President Biden asking for a federal disaster declaration.

​​The Secretary of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet issued an order​ exempting vehicles providing relief and vital products to the flooded areas of Eastern Kentucky from hours of service restrictions and waived requirements that they stop at weigh stations.
​07/29/2022
​​The Governor launched the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund for families impacted by the flooding. The funds can help with food, shelter and other necessities of life and supplement any emergency funds that come into the area.

​Gov. Beshear issued an executive order implementing emergency dispensing of pharmaceuticals. The order gives pharmacies authority to complete emergency refills and temporarily operate pharmacies in locations not on their licenses if their license location has been affected by the flooding.

​Gov. Beshear issued an executive order suspending work search requirements and waiving the 7-day waiting period for those seeking unemployment benefits in Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike and Wolfe counties.
​07/30/2022
​The Director of Kentucky Emergency Management issued directives allowing electricians who have out-of-state licenses and are in good standing to perform volunteer work in the counties of Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike, and Wolfe and allowing electric utility companies to restore power without a service inspection for 14 days in the same counties.
​08/01/2022

​Gov. Beshear issued an executive order waiving fees to replace a driver's license, permit, or state ID, along with duplicate motor vehicle registration and title. The order applies to residents in Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike and Wolfe counties and is retroactively effective July, 28, 2022.


​The Governor sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requesting that Floyd, Johnson, Leslie, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley and Pike counties be added to the list of counties eligible for Individual Assistance.

​The Secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet issued an order​ declaring unused tr​a​vel trailer units as surplus property and directing that they be transported to Eastern Kentucky for use in the relief efforts following the storms and flooding.​
​08/02/2022
​​The Governor sent a letter to FEMA requesting that Wolfe County be added to the list of counties eligible for Individual Assistance.
​08/03/2022

​The Director of Kentucky Emergency Management issued directives allowing HVAC mechanics​ and plumbers who have out-of-state licenses and are in good standing to perform volunteer work in the counties of Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike, and Wolfe.

​The Governor issued an executive order suspending the requirement to dispose of the carcasses of domestic livestock, poultry and fish within 48 hours of discovery in the 13 Eastern Kentucky counties in which a state of emergency was declared.

​The Director of Kentucky Emergency Management issued a directive waiving permit and inspection fees for temporary or transitional housing resulting from the severe weather events beginning July 26 in Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike, and Wolfe counties.
​08/04/2022
​Gov. Beshear sent a letter​ to President Biden requesting that the federal cost share for eligible emergency work be increased from the standard 75% to 100% for the 13 counties in the original disaster declaration that qualify for public assistance: Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike and Wolfe.
​​
​The Governor sent a letter​ to FEMA requesting that Whitley County be added to the counties eligible for Individual Assistance.
​08/05/2022
​​The Director of Kentucky Emergency Management sent a letter​ to FEMA asking the agency to implement Clean and Sanitize Assistance.

​The Director of Kentucky Emergency Management sent a letter​ to FEMA requesting Critical Needs Assistance for applicants who have been displaced from their primary dwellings and have immediate critical needs.
​08/06/2022
​​The Director of Kentucky Emergency Management sent a letter​ to FEMA requesting Direct Temporary Housing Assistance to support displaced survivors in rebuilding their lives and transitioning to stable, permanent housing.
08/08/2022
​Kentucky Emergency Management sent a letter​ to FEMA asking that a Public Assistance Program joint preliminary damage assessment be conducted for Boyd County.
​08/11/2022

​Kentucky Emergency Management sent a letter to FEMA asking that Public Assistance Program joint preliminary damage assessments be conducted for Lee and Powell counties. 

​Kentucky Emergency Management sent a letter​ to FEMA requesting that Cumberland and Whitley counties be added to the Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance.
​08/15/2022
​Gov. Beshear issued an executive order​ extending the state of emergency as it relates to price gouging in the affected areas following the flooding in Eastern Kentucky.

​The Secretary of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet issued an order​​ extending an exemption for vehicles providing relief and vital products to the flooded areas of Eastern Kentucky from hours of service restrictions and waived requirements that they stop at weigh stations.
​08/17/2022
​Kentucky Emergency Management sent a letter​ to FEMA requesting that Lee, Lincoln and Powell counties be added to the Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance.
​08/19/2022
​​Gov. Beshear issued an executive order that extends the waiving of fees to replace a driver's license, permit, or state ID, along with duplicate motor vehicle registration and title. The order applies to residents in Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Whitley and Wolfe counties.
08/22/2022
​Kentucky Emergency Management sent a letter​ to F​EMA requesting that the regisratation period for Public Assistance be extended for 30 days.
​08/25/2022
​​Kentucky Emergency Management sent a letter to FEMA requesting that Lee County be considered for Individual Assistance.

​Kentucky Emergency Management sent a follow-up letter​ to FEMA reiterating the request that the regisratation period for Public Assistance be extended for 30 days.

​Kentucky Emergency Management sent a letter requesting a joint Public Assistance Program preliminary damage assessment for Harlan County.
08/26/2022
​The Secretary of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet issued an order​​​ extending an exemption for vehicles providing relief and vital products to the flooded areas of Eastern Kentucky from hours of service restrictions and waived requirements that they stop at weigh stations.

​The Governor issued an executive order extending the state of emergency and expanding the number of counties included that they might be eligible for funding to offset expenses incurred as a result of the flooding in Eastern Kentucky.
​08/31/2022
​​Kentucky Emergency Management sent a letter to FEMA requesting implementation of the Community Disaster Loan Program for counties in the declared disaster.

​09/13/2022
​​The Governor sent a letter to President Biden requesting that the federal share for the Public Assistance Program be increased to 90% outside or the previously approved 100% federal cost share for the first 30 days of the disaster. Kentucky's Congressional delegation also sent a letter​ in support of the request.
09/15/2022
​Kentucky Emergency Management sent a letter​ to FEMA requesting an extension of 30 days to the registration period for the Individuals and Households Assistance Program.
​09/17/2022
​​Kentucky Emergency Management sent a letter to FEMA notifying them that the commonwealth was extending the period of performance for emergency work as it pertains to non-congregate sheltering.

Flood R​esources

​​​For a comprehensive list of resources for residents affected by the flooding in Eastern Kentucky, click here​.
 ​​

Federal Actions

​​DR-4663-KY
Kentucky Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides​

July 29,2022
President Biden Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Kentucky

July 30, 2022
Amendment No. 1 to Notice of Major Disaster Declaration provides that residents in ​Breathitt, Clay, Knott, Letcher and Perry counties are eligible for Individual Assistance.

August 2, 2002
Amendment No. 2 to Notice of Major Disaster Declaration adds Floyd and Pike counties to list of Eastern Kentucky counties eligible for Individual Assistance.

August 4, 2022
Amendment No. 3 to Notice of Major Disaster Declaration adds Owsley County to list of Eastern Kentucky counties eligible for Individual Assistance

August 5, 2022
Amendment No. 4 to Notice of Major Disaster Declaration​ adds Leslie, Magoffin, Martin and Whitley counties to the list of Eastern Kentucky counties eligible for Individual Asistance.

Amendment No. 5 to Notice of Major Disaster Declaration​ adds assistance for debris removal and permanent work to repair public facilities for Clay, Martin and Perry counties.

August 6, 2022
Amendment No. 6 to Notice of Major Disaster Declaration adds assistance for debris removal and permanent work to repair public facilities​ for Floyd, Knott, Owsley and Pike counties.

President Biden Amends Kentucky Disaster Declaration​ to increase the federal share of costs of debris removal and emergency protective measures to 100% for a 30-day period of the Commonwealth's choosing within the first 120 days of the declaration. (Amendment No. 10 to Notice of Major Disaster Declaration)

August 7, 2022
FEMA approved KYEM's request for Clean and Sanitize Assistance.

FEMA approved​ KYEM's request for Critical Needs Assistance.

August 8, 2022
FEMA approved KYEM's request for Direct Temporary Housing Assistance in the counties of Breathitt, Knott, Letcher and Perry counties.

August 12, 2022
Amendment No. 7 to Notice of Major Disaster Declaration adds assistance for debris removal and permanent work to repair public facilities​ for Breathitt, Johnson, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin and Wolfe counties and adds Public Assistance for Cumberland and Whitley counties.

August 19, 2022
Amendment No. 8 to Notice of the Major Disaster Declaration adds Public Assistance for Lee, Lincoln and Powell counties.

August 30, 2022
FEMA approved a request for a 30-day extension of the registration deadline for the Public Assistance Program.

September 1, 2022
Amendment No. 9 to Notice of Major Disaster Declaration closes the incident period of the disaster effective August 11, 2022.

September 2, 2022
Amendment No. 11 to the Notice of Major Disaster Declaration adds Lee County to the list of Eastern Kentucky counties eligible for Individual Asistance and adds Public Assistance for Casey and Harlan counties. 

September 12, 2022
FEMA approved a request to activate the Community Disaster Loan program to provide operation funding for local governments that incurred significant loss due to the flooding.

September 21, 2022
FEMA approved a request for Direct Temporary Housing Assistance for Floyd County.

September 26, 2022
FEMA approved​ a request to extend for 30 days the deadline for residents in counties approved for Individual Assistance to register. The new deadline is Oct. 28.

October 31, 2022
FEMA approved​ a request for Direct Temporary Housing Assistance for Pike County.