Here is the statement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on President Barack Obama's major disaster declaration. PRESIDENT DECLARES MAJOR DISASTER FOR COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for the Commonwealth of Kentucky and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area by severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding on August 4, 2009. The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Jefferson County. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Federal funding also is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the entire Commonwealth. Fugate named Michael J. Lapinski as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Lapinski said that additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments. FEMA said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.EST.
