Governor Andy Beshear complained Thursday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is denying too many requests for help in flood-ravaged eastern Kentucky. , urged those who were turned down to accept their views. Direct cases to local agency representatives.
With a mantra of 'Sue, sue, sue', Beshear told those applying for disaster assistance: Second, if you get rejected, go and look these people in the eye. visited the area. The president has declared that the federal government will provide assistance until the residents are restored. The governor said Thursday that he appreciated the federal government's swift response to the devastating flash flood late last month and the deployment ofFEMA officials to the area. The rushing water washed away homes and flooded communities, killing at least 38 people.
But the Democratic governor said, "We need better results" for more residents of eastern Kentucky applying for FEMA assistance to help recover from the devastation.
"Too many people are being rejected," Beshear said at a press conference. “There are not enough people approved, and now is the time for FEMA to get it right. Change the history of denying too many people, not funding enough, and fix it here. It's going to happen."
FEMA officials did not immediately respond when contacted by email on Thursday.
The governor running for re-election next year has experience pastoring disaster-hit areas. Last December, deadly tornadoes devastated several towns in western Kentucky.
Beshear said on Thursday that he had yet to get figures for Eastern Kentucky that reflected the percentage of aid applications denied by FEMA. The agency promised to provide those numbers, along with data showing why people were rejected, he said.
He gave examples of people in dire situations who were denied help or given insufficient amounts of help.
"I once spoke to someone who told me that all was well when my 82-year-old grandmother visited the scene, but later that night she was denied by email." she said Beshear. We will continue to do this.
Kentucky Sen. Brandon Smith said Thursday he had heard from voters who said they were denied help for reconstruction or were offered "grotesquely inadequate amounts." . One family who reached out to his office said they were offered $8,000 for their losses, the Republican lawmaker said in a news release. It means the government has determined that this family's livelihood value, literally everything worthy of their name, is worth only $8,000," he said.
Some families are staying in tents on the property and are unable or unwilling to go to temporary housing for fear of being looted, Smith said.
The governor criticized the application process, saying flood victims were being denied assistance because they lacked the necessary documentation. It said it had expressed concern to the President,, and to FEMA's top management about the denial of assistance.
"I hear from a very high level that they are in complete agreement," the governor said, referring to his concerns. "And from the people on the ground, I was talking to them yesterday, they want to offer help. There's something wrong in the middle." Then Bethia's frustration boiled over. He said she was rescued from a car that had been swept away by a flood.
"Her home is gone," he said. All she has is what she has. And you're going to say she doesn't qualify for what?For example if you deny someone because they don't have a house deed they don't have it . lost. we can replace it. let's not deny them. Give them the chance to get the documents they need. ''
