Biden travels to Kentucky to investigate flood damage and meet with victims

WASHINGTON— President Biden and First Lady, along with Gov. Andy Beshear and Mrs. Britney, meet with families to review damage caused by storms that caused worst flooding in Kentucky history.

At least 37 people have died since last month's devastating floods, which fell between 8 and 10.5 inches of rain in just 48 hours. The National Weather Service said Sunday that flooding remained a threat and warned of more thunderstorms through Thursday.

Monday's Biden's visit to the state will be his second. . He had previously visited after the tornado hit Kentucky in December, killing 77 people and leaving a trail of destruction.

"I would appreciate it if you could tell me why we continue to be under attack here in Kentucky," Beshear said recently. "I wish I could tell you why some less privileged areas continue to suffer and lose everything. I can't explain why, but what are we doing about it? We know, and the answer is all we can do.These are our people.Let's make sure we help them. Extending government disaster assistance to Kentucky, allowing the federal government to fully cover the cost of debris removal and other emergency measures.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided more than $3.1 million in relief funds and hundreds of lives. Personnel were deployed to assist

Mayfield to celebrate the completion of Beshear's first fully constructed home since the tornado nearly wiped out the town. The flood occurred just one month after his visit, and on that day three families were handed the keys to their new homes, and the governor listened in his remarks to the visit that followed shortly after.

"We were beaten that day, but we vowed not to be beaten," said Beshear. "We will get back on our feet again and move on. And six months later we are not just getting up, not just standing, we are moving forward."

More disasters are testing the state now. Beshear has made as many trips to eastern Kentucky since the floods began, weather permitting. He has held daily hour-long press conferences to provide details, including any assistance to victims. As after the tornado, Beshear set up a relief fund that goes directly to people in the affected areas.

His Beshear, a Democrat, narrowly defeated his Republican incumbent in 2019 and is seeking his second term in 2023.

Opinion polls have consistently shown strong support among Kentuckians. But several high-profile Republicans have joined the governor's race, taking turns bashing the governor's aggressive handling of the pandemic and trying to link him to Mr. Biden and rising inflation.

Beshear has frequently commented on the cost of skyrocketing inflation by eating up Kentuckians' budgets. Rather than blaming Mr. Biden, he cites Russia's aggression in Ukraine and supply chain bottlenecks as contributing to rising consumer costs.

In:
• Weather
• Jill Biden
• Joe Biden
• Education
• Kentucky
• Carine Jeanpierre
• Floods