Gov. Andy Beshear gives update on EKY FEMA approvals as more counties approved for food benefits

EASTERN KENTUCKY (WYMT) - On Monday, Governor Andy Beshear announced many people are seeing FEMA approvals in Eastern Kentucky after backlash to many reports of denied aid requests.

He said FEMA has approved 2,080 people who were initially denied.

He said this is good news, but there is still work to do.

The Governor also announced that disaster food benefits have been approved for people living and working in the 12 counties declared a major disaster area by the Biden Administration.

This includes Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike, and Whitley Counties.

This paved the way for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (or D-SNAP) benefits. Applications can be submitted starting Wednesday, August 24.

“The Eastern Kentucky families impacted by the devastating flooding have lost everything, and these additional benefits are essential to helping these Kentuckians recover and rebuild,” Gov. Beshear said. “This will be a long road to recovery, but we will be here for our people in the weeks, months and years ahead. We are in this together.”

“We are grateful for this emergency funding to help Kentuckians who may have lost loved ones, employment or personal property due to the worst flooding the region has seen in generations,” Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander said.

The fastest way to receive benefits is to call the Department for Community Based Services’ Center for D-SNAP at 833-371-8570. Applications will be taken by phone from 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays.