$56M in federal aid approved for Kentucky after deadly April floods, May tornadoes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Millions of dollars in federal assistance is now available to Kentuckians affected by rounds of severe weather, including tornadoes, and widespread flooding in April and May.

President Donald Trump approved two disaster declarations for the state on Tuesday, making $56 million in recovery funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's public assistance program available to those who are still picking up the pieces from the weather events.

The FEMA program aids in the recovery process by providing grants to both state and local governments, and some nonprofits, to restore infrastructures damaged during disaster events that have been given presidential declarations, according to the Kentucky Emergency Management website.

Gov. Andy Beshear announced the president's approval of the public assistance in social media posts Tuesday evening on X and Facebook.

This support is essential to helping these communities rebuild, and I am grateful to the President and @SecNoem. I also told @POTUS that the @FEMA team members on the ground are doing great work supporting Kentuckians. We will provide more details soon. 2/2
— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) July 22, 2025

"This support is essential to helping these communities rebuild, and I am grateful to the President and Sec. (Kristi) Noem," Beshear wrote. "I also told the President that the FEMA team members on the ground are doing great work supporting Kentuckians."

According to a post on his TruthSocial page Tuesday evening, the president said he had approved two declarations for the state—one for the April flooding and one for the May 16-17 tornadoes that tore through the state.

The approved declarations provide $28.9 million for widespread April flooding and $27.1 million for tornadoes that broke out in May for a total of $56 million.

Rounds of severe weather and widespread flooding in April brought devastation to much of the Kentuckiana area, killing at least seven people, according to Beshear's office. The Ohio River crested at Louisville's McAlpine Upper gauge at 36.63 feet, making it one of the 10 worst floods in the city's history.

In May, a tornado with 170 mph winds crossed through three Kentucky counties. The NWS office in Jackson, Kentucky, confirmed through a multi-day survey the tornado was 1,700 yards wide at its peak — nearly 1 mile — and was on the ground for more than 55 miles from Somerset to London. Twenty people were killed and several others were injured by the severe weather that leveled towns and devastated communities.

Beshear estimates recovery costs could reach hundreds of millions of dollars for parts of London and Somerset. Twenty people were killed and several others were injured.

Major disaster declarations were issued for both weather events.

IMAGES | Kentucky residents clean up after deadly tornado flattens homes

FEMA assistance may include grants that can be used for temporary housing and home repairs, or low-interest loans that can help cover uninsured property losses. Other programs are also available to help residents and business owners recover.

To apply, click here, call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or use the FEMA App.

When applying for assistance, make sure to:

Upload documents on the FEMA website or use the FEMA app
Your damaged home is your primary residence
You haven't received assistance for the same loses from another source like insurance
Provide the following:
- A current phone number where you can be reached by FEMA
- Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying.
- Your Social Security Number.
- A general list of damage and losses.
- Banking information if you choose direct deposit.
- If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name.

If you disagree with FEMA's decision, you can appeal online, in person at a Disaster Recovery Center, or by mail.

Kentucky residents who experienced loss after severe storms in April can still apply for FEMA assistance. The deadline to apply is July 25, according to the FEMA website.

Impacted citizens can also visit a FEMA disaster recovery center to apply for assistance. At these locations, FEMA representatives can explain available assistance programs, how to apply to FEMA and help connect survivors with resources.

No appointment is needed to visit the centers. To look for one near you, click here for a map of locations.

To learn more about Kentucky flooding and severe weather recovery, click here.