HARTFORD, Ky. — As Ohio County continues to clean up and move forward after the Dec. 10 severe weather and tornado, the Ohio County Fiscal Court was visited by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Senator Rand Paul’s Office. Both urged those in Ohio County who had damage brought about by the tornado and storms to sign up for assistance from the federal government.
At the Jan. 11 meeting of the Ohio County Fiscal Court, Ohio County Judge-Executive David Johnston introduced to the court, and those in attendance, Chris Arnim, who was with FEMA.
Arnim was there to remind Ohio Countians who had damage from the Dec. 10, 2021, severe storms and tornado to sign up for FEMA assistance. The deadline to sign up is Feb. 11, 2022.
FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.
Disaster Recovery Centers and Mobile Registration Intake Centers can provide one-on-one help with the application process. To find the latest information about Disaster Recovery Centers in Kentucky, visit the FEMA App on your smartphone, click on “Talk to FEMA in person.” You also may visit the Disaster Recovery Center Locator online, or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
FEMA was scheduled to be at the Ohio County Community Center for a Town Hall Meeting to help those who needed assistance, but due to the threat of inclement weather, the meeting was canceled. It is not known if the meeting will be rescheduled before the Feb. 11 deadline.
Also at the Jan. 11 fiscal court meeting, Johnston introduced Rachel McCubbin, the state deputy director for Sen. Rand Paul. McCubbin was there to inform the court and the county that Paul’s office was going to do all it could to help those affected by the Dec. 10 storms.
McCubbin reiterated Arnim’s message by asking those who had damage due to the Dec. 10 severe weather to sign up for FEMA assistance. The money is a grant, not a loan to be paid back.
Johnston provided an update on the tornado recovery effort after McCubbin was finished speaking. The Ohio County Road Department has been working “diligently” on the cleanup. Johnston said the state was helping with the clean up and disposing of all the downed trees and limbs.
At this point, the county is only cleaning up vegetation and brush. At a later date, FEAM will pay for the cleanup of other debris.
In addition to the cleanup effort, Sheriff Tracy Beatty has had his deputies patrol the most damaged areas to help stop looting and theft. Beatty said there had been a few thefts, but since the extra patrols started, the thefts have stopped.