Kentucky lawmakers push Trump to approve disaster aid after deadly June storms, flooding

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Kentucky's congressional delegation is asking President Donald Trump to approve a major disaster declaration after deadly storms, flooding and tornadoes caused widespread damage across the state in June.

The request, led by U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, comes days after Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear formally asked for federal disaster assistance.

The severe weather stretched from June 17 through June 30 and brought repeated rounds of heavy rain, flash flooding and tornadoes across much of Kentucky, especially in the central area.

Beshear declared a statewide state of emergency June 27 after the dangerous flash flooding triggered dozens of water rescues, forced evacuations and closed roads across the state.

The storms left six people dead, including three in Madison County and a Jefferson County man who was swept away by floodwaters in Floyds Fork.

According to the delegation's letter Tuesday, 42 homes were destroyed or left uninhabitable, more than 100 businesses were damaged, and roads, bridges and electric infrastructure suffered major damage. Nineteen counties and 13 cities also declared states of emergency during the storms, the delegation said.

If approved, the disaster declaration would provide federal public assistance, individual assistance and hazard mitigation funding to help those communities recover and rebuild.

"With the recent string of disasters that Kentucky has faced, many disaster response teams in the state are fatigued and overwhelmed," the congressional delegation wrote. "Given the substantial damage and the challenges faced by state and local resources, we believe Federal assistance is necessary."