Trump denied aid for 5 KY counties after fatal weather. Beshear asks FEMA to reconsider

Christopher Leach, Lexington Herald-Leader on Oct 23, 2026

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear has asked federal officials to reconsider a denied request of financial aid for victims of a deadly weather outbreak in Kentucky last June.

In September, President Donald Trump approved $9.1 million in public assistance to Kentucky through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help the state recover from a wave of severe storms that brought flooding, strong winds and other damage June 17-30. But Trump denied financial aid for five counties — Bracken, Carroll, Grant, Pendleton and Trimble counties.

Beshear appealed Trump’s denial on Friday, and has asked FEMA Acting Associate Administrator David Arnot to reconsider.

“While we are grateful that 20 counties affected were approved for public assistance, we need the additional federal support to fully recover and rebuild,” Beshear said. “Without this assistance, recovery from this event far exceeds the capabilities of the affected counties, and it will have negative impacts for years to come.”

FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides grants to governments for recovery efforts from major disasters or emergencies. Certain types of private nonprofit organizations are also eligible for public assistance.

Bullitt, Butler, Clinton, Cumberland, Garrard, Grayson, Green, Hardin, Henderson, Jackson, Jessamine, Madison, Meade, Mercer, Metcalfe, Ohio, Owsley, Rockcastle, Spencer, and Wayne counties were approved for public assistance in September. Six people died as a result of the severe weather, three of whom were in Madison County.

States of emergency were declared in 19 counties and 13 cities. Some parts of the state got as much as 10 inches of rain in one weekend.

In Beshear’s appeal letter, he also asked for individual assistance for Bullitt, Clinton, Cumberland, Jackson, Madison, Marion and Meade counties. FEMA’s Individual Assistance and Households Program provides finances and services for eligible individuals and households affected by a disaster.

Beshear also asked Arnot to adjust the incident time period from five days to June 17-30, and to roll back Kentucky’s denial from the Hazard Mitigation Program.

Beshear’s original July 23 request asked for a major disaster declaration, public and individual assistance, as well as hazard mitigation funding. He previously said the request should be a “slam dunk” while touring damage in Madison County.