Abramson Begins Applying For Federal Relief

Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson is working with Congressman John Yarmuth and Governor Steve Beshear to apply for federal relief funds for this week's flood.The city needs to prove that cleaning up the damage caused by the flood will cost more than 5.2 million dollars. Mayor's spokesperson Chris Poynter says that will be no problem."We're 100% certain we've topped the $5.2 million just at the library alone," he says. "It will probably be in the tens of millions of dollars in damages once you include everything."Poynter says more than 100 city buildings were damaged in Tuesday's flood. If the president approves the request for disaster relief, federal funds will cover 75% of the cleanup bill and the city and state will split the remainder."It's something we'll have to make room for, we don't have a choice," says Poynter. "In less than 11 months we have had three major natural disasters and those have occurred at the worst economic crisis in this city and this country in many decades."Funds for private buildings and homes may become available later in the form of low-interest loans.