Total federal disaster assistance approved for Kentucky survivors of the tornadoes and damaging storms of Feb. 29 through March 3 now stands at more than $18.6 million.

The severe weather that formed the two volatile weather systems during that period generated an estimated $1 to $2 billion in insured losses, killing at least 19 people.

In a preliminary analysis, catastrophe modeler EQECAT reported the storms essentially “caused a month's worth of tornadoes in just a few days.”

Area residents and business owners have been picking up the pieces. To date, close to 5,300 Kentuckians in 21 designated counties have contacted FEMA for help or information about disaster assistance.

According to FEMA, more than 2,580 homes had sustained damages. Of those, more than 280 were destroyed. As of April 20, the agency said nearly 3,200 inspections of damaged properties had been conducted.

FEMA adds that more than $8.7 million has been approved for Individual Assistance grants, including housing assistance, short-term rental assistance, home repair costs and other needs assistance.

The following Kentucky counties are eligible for help from FEMA's public assistance program: Adair, Ballard, Bath, Grant, Johnson, Kenton, Larue, Laurel, Lawrence, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Morgan, Pendleton, Trimble and Wolfe.

Both Kentucky Emergency Management and FEMA encourage residents to make sure their friends, neighbors and family members have registered with FEMA for federal disaster assistance by May 7.

Special Reports /

Disaster Aid For Kentuckians Tops $18M

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