President Grants Federal Relief for Kentucky Counties

President Barack Obama authorized federal assistance for seven Kentucky counties Tuesday following last week's deadly storms that damaged parts of northern and eastern Kentucky.The counties that have been granted federal assistance include Johnson, Kenton, Laurel, Lawrence, Menifee, Morgan, and Pendleton. "Damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed," said an official release from Gov. Steve Beshear's office.From the Governor's office:"Assistance for individuals 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.Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at 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. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Recovery centers will also be set up in affected areas to assist those residents in person."