LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Thousands of residents across the region are grappling with the aftermath of historic flooding earlier this month, and many are still waiting for one crucial form of assistance: help from the government.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has expressed his commitment to securing federal aid, but storm victims say they feel forgotten and abandoned. For some, the flooding damage was the latest in a series of misfortunes, compounded by earlier tornado destruction.
One such resident, Tommy Stucker, lives on Dixie Beach Road near the Jefferson County line. His property was severely impacted by both a tornado earlier this year and the flooding that followed. “I honestly didn’t know what to expect,” Stucker said, surveying the damage to one of his homes, which has been gutted down to the studs. “I just figured with it being as bad as it was… us taking a boat in and out and the tornado hitting before that… we would be entitled to something.”
Despite the devastation, Stucker and other flood victims in Kentucky have yet to see federal assistance. As of now, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has not issued a major disaster declaration for Kentucky in response to the April flooding.
Governor Beshear confirmed that the state has formally requested federal aid, but is still awaiting a response. “I’ve seen enough of these to know we’ve sustained enough damage in that April flooding… not just in the initial counties we applied for, but in many more… to receive that aid,” Beshear said during a press conference Thursday. “Our people are counting on the federal government, on the president, to sign that declaration so they can get the help they need.”
For comparison, it took 10 days to secure a disaster declaration following the February storms, which allowed residents in 16 Kentucky counties to access federal assistance. However, as of Thursday, it had been 14 days since the April flooding, and the declaration is still pending.
In the interim, only local governments and private nonprofits are eligible to apply for assistance. Stucker, frustrated with the delay, said he called FEMA to inquire about help, only to be told that no disaster relief was available in his area. His disappointment deepened when he learned that a significant portion of the city’s resources, 87% of $5 million, was spent on cleaning up the Great Lawn for the Chow Wagon event. “They care about money. That makes the city money. They don’t care about us,” Stucker lamented.
The flooding has caused widespread damage, from Stucker’s neighborhood near West Point to Prospect, where two homes have been deemed unsafe due to a mudslide threatening to carry them into Harrods Creek. Local officials continue to search for solutions for displaced families, but many are still left without assistance as the wait for federal aid drags on.
In addition to the hardships in Kentucky, neighboring communities in Indiana—specifically Hardin, Bullitt, and Clark County—have also suffered from the floods, further exacerbating the scale of the disaster.
“People should’ve already been here helping,” Stucker added. “No resources here, nobody here. Nobody came over here.”
While FEMA assistance remains in limbo, the U.S. Small Business Administration has stepped in, offering low-interest loans for small businesses, private nonprofits, and residents in Orange and Harrison counties in Indiana. However, this help is limited, and many flood victims feel it is not enough to address the full scope of the disaster.
As Kentucky continues to await the much-needed disaster declaration, residents are left grappling with uncertainty, hoping that the federal government will soon come through with the assistance they so desperately need.
