Gov. Beshear announces $612K in new SAFE awards for Eastern Kentucky storm recovery

58 minutes ago

ABC 36 Digital Staff,

FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Gov. Andy Beshear says more help is on the way for Eastern Kentucky communities still working to recover from this year’s devastating storms and floods. On Monday, the Governor announced more than $612,000 in new funding through the State Aid Funding for Emergencies (SAFE) program.

In a statement, Gov. Beshear said the Commonwealth remains committed to rebuilding the region stronger than before.

“We made a promise to our fellow Kentuckians that we would rebuild Eastern Kentucky stronger and more resilient, and these funds are another step toward accomplishing that goal,” he said, noting the state will continue to support impacted families “for as long as it takes.”

According to the Governor’s Office, the latest round of SAFE awards includes:

City of Whitesburg — $450,000 to help stabilize the city’s finances after significant disaster-related strain.
Perry County — $76,564 to bring electric and communication connections to the Skyview Estates high-ground community.
City of Wheelwright — $50,000 to repair sidewalks and roads damaged during the storms.
Finance and Administration Cabinet — $35,580 for survey work, title services, and other land-acquisition needs for high-ground sites in Knott County (Olive Branch) and Letcher County (Grandview).

The SAFE program was designed to fill the gaps when federal disaster aid isn’t available yet. Lawmakers created the 4860 SAFE fund earlier this year to specifically help communities impacted by FEMA Disaster 4860. Since then, the Governor has announced more than $35 million in awards from that fund alone.

This is just the latest round of support. Since 2022, more than $118 million in SAFE funding has gone to Western Kentucky tornado recovery, and another $143 million has supported rebuilding efforts in Eastern Kentucky following historic flooding.