From WEKU, Richmond/Kentucky Public RadioMore than a dozen Kentucky counties continue to clean up following Friday’s severe storms. A tornado in Madison County killed two people and damaged 150 homes. Governor Steve Beshear has declared an emergency in the affected areas and more than 100 National Guard troops have been activated to help with storm relief and cleanup. Kentucky Emergency management Director Brigadier General John Heltzel is promising additional state assistance."What happens at this point we complete the damage assessments and we roll that up…it rolls into a factor and we evaluate whether we’ve made presidential declaration limits or not. In reality, in this case, we may not make it. Then the state will be able to provide whatever resources administrative support we can," Heltzel said.Madison County Judge-Executive Kent Clark says the cleanup will take three or four weeks and cost the county between $250,000 and $300,000.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.