Kentucky Disaster Relief Program: FEMA Declarations, State Funds, and Help After a Storm

How the Kentucky disaster relief program works

Think of disaster help in Kentucky as a ladder. Each rung opens only when the one below it is overwhelmed.

• Your county. The county judge-executive and the county emergency management director open shelters, organize debris removal, and gather damage reports from residents. That reporting is the first step toward any outside help.
• The state. When damage is widespread, the Governor declares a state of emergency. KYEM, the state's emergency management agency, then sends teams to assess damage with FEMA and decides whether to ask for federal help.
• The federal government. The Governor asks the President for a major disaster declaration. If it includes Individual Assistance, people in the named counties can register with FEMA for household grants. If it includes only Public Assistance, FEMA pays to repair roads, bridges, and public buildings, but not homes.

That last point surprises many people. A storm can be serious enough for a federal declaration and still bring no household grants, because FEMA decided the uninsured home damage was not large enough to need them. Both of Kentucky's 2026 declarations so far are like that.

Kentucky also uses emergency declarations (the "EM" numbers). These pay for emergency protective measures, such as shelters and generators during a storm. They do not pay individuals for damage. In 2025 and 2026, emergency declarations covered all 120 Kentucky counties during three storm events.

Because declarations depend on damage counts, reporting matters even if you think your loss is small. Tell your county emergency management office, follow local news and the Governor's announcements for damage-reporting lines, and photograph everything before you clean up.

Kentucky disaster declarations, 2024 to 2026

This table comes from FEMA's open disaster data (OpenFEMA), checked November 8, 2026. "Household aid" means the Individuals and Households Program was declared. Dollar figures are FEMA's approved household assistance (housing help plus other needs).

The February 2025 flooding hit many of the same Eastern Kentucky counties that flooded in July 2022, and it produced the largest household aid total of the period. The April 2025 event was long: FEMA lists it from April 2 to May 16, 2025, and counties were added to the declaration in stages. The May 2025 tornadoes included the storm that struck Laurel County and the London area.

FEMA registration for each of these declarations closed long ago. If you registered and are still waiting on an appeal, a housing inspection, or continued rental help, call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 and have your FEMA registration number ready.

FEMA household grants and what they cover

The Individuals and Households Program is the main source of disaster grants for Kentucky families. It is not a loan, and you do not repay it unless insurance or another program later pays for the same loss. It is meant to make a home safe and livable, not to replace everything.

Housing help

• Rental assistance if you cannot live in your home while it is repaired.
• Home repair grants for the structure, utilities, and essential systems of an owner-occupied primary home.
• Replacement help in limited cases when a home is destroyed.
• Lodging reimbursement for hotel costs right after the disaster, in some declarations.

Other needs

• Personal property such as furniture, appliances, and clothing.
• Disaster-caused medical, dental, funeral, and child care costs.
• Transportation repairs when a vehicle is your only one and is not insured.
• Moving and storage costs, and cleanup items in some declarations.

FEMA cannot pay for anything insurance already covers. If you have homeowners, renters, or flood insurance, file that claim right away and tell FEMA. In Eastern Kentucky especially, many homes sit in flood zones without flood insurance, which is one reason the February 2025 grant totals were so large.

Registering with FEMA when aid opens

When a future Kentucky declaration includes Individual Assistance, FEMA usually allows about 60 days to register, and it can extend that window. Here is how to apply:

1. Check that your county is listed. Only residents of named counties can register for that disaster. News releases from the Governor's office and FEMA list the counties.
2. Register online or by phone. Use DisasterAssistance.gov, the FEMA App, or the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362. You can also register in person at a Disaster Recovery Center if one opens near you.
3. Have your details ready. FEMA asks for a Social Security number for someone in the household, the damaged address, a phone number, insurance information, household income, and bank details for direct deposit.
4. Allow the inspection. An inspector may visit or contact you to verify damage. Keep receipts and photos.
5. Read every letter. If FEMA denies you or pays less than you expected, the letter explains why. You have 60 days to appeal in writing.

A FEMA decision letter that says "ineligible" often just means a document is missing, such as proof you lived in the home or an insurance settlement letter. Free legal help, described below, can assist with appeals. For a general list of papers to keep in a safe place, see our documents checklist.

Team Kentucky relief funds

Kentucky's governors have set up donation funds after large disasters. These are state-run accounts filled by public donations, not FEMA money. They usually pay for targeted needs that the state announces, rather than taking open applications.

• Team Kentucky Emergency Relief Fund. Created as the Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund after the February 2025 floods, it now appears on the state's site under the Emergency Relief Fund name. The site says it assists Kentuckians affected by catastrophic events, has no administrative fees, and is subject to open records and legislative oversight. When the fund pays for something, such as help with funeral costs, the Governor's office announces how to request it.
• Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund. Set up after the July 2022 floods. The state's page now says this fund is closed and points donors to the newer fund.
• Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund. Created after the December 2021 tornadoes. A November 2024 update to the legislature's Interim Joint Committee on State Government showed about $37,000 left of $52.4 million donated, with all remaining money committed to nonprofit groups building homes for survivors. It does not take applications.

If you were affected by a recent storm, the best way to learn whether a fund is paying for anything is to watch the Governor's announcements and ask your county emergency manager or local long-term recovery group. For help with bills that are not tied to a disaster, our guide to Kentucky hardship grants lists state and charity programs.

Disaster SNAP and lost-food replacement

Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) gives one month of food benefits to households that are not normally on SNAP but suffered disaster losses. USDA approves it only after a declaration with Individual Assistance, and the state runs it for a few days in set locations. According to the USDA Kentucky disaster nutrition page:

• February 2025 floods: D-SNAP ran March 5 to 14, 2025, in 14 counties, and March 24 to 28 in Leslie and Woodford counties.
• April 2025 storms: D-SNAP ran May 7 to 14, 2025, in 13 counties, then on five days between May 22 and May 29 in 24 added counties.
• May 2025 tornadoes: no D-SNAP. USDA instead let SNAP households in 26 counties, including Laurel, Pulaski, Russell and Union, buy hot foods through July 2, 2025, and waived the 10-day deadline to report lost food statewide through June 16, 2025.
• 2026 storms: USDA approved only waivers that let current SNAP households replace food lost to power outages (statewide after the January storm, and in named counties after the June 27 and August 11 storms).

The page says there are no active disaster response efforts in Kentucky now. If you already get SNAP and lose food in a power outage or flood, report it to the Department for Community Based Services within 10 days and ask for a replacement. To see what regular SNAP might pay your household, use our SNAP calculator. You can apply for SNAP and other benefits through kynect benefits, and applying is free.

Free legal help, insurance, and taxes

Disasters create paperwork problems as much as physical ones. These free or official resources can help:

• Legal aid. AppalReD Legal Aid serves Eastern and South-Central Kentucky and runs a Disaster Legal Services hotline at 1-844-478-0099 for FEMA appeals, landlord problems, lost documents, and contractor scams. Its general intake line is 1-866-277-5733. Other parts of the state are served by other legal aid groups; 211 can connect you.
• Insurance. The Kentucky Department of Insurance takes complaints if an insurer delays or denies a claim unfairly.
• Taxes. When FEMA declares a disaster, the IRS often extends filing deadlines for the affected area. Check IRS tax relief in disaster situations. Uninsured losses may also be deductible as a casualty loss.

Be careful with contractors who knock on doors after a storm. Get written estimates, check references, and never pay the full price before work starts.

SBA disaster loans, for information

The U.S. Small Business Administration offers disaster loans to homeowners, renters, and businesses in declared areas. We mention them only so you know how the system works: FEMA may refer you to the SBA after you register, and completing or declining the SBA step can affect whether FEMA considers you for some other-needs grants. Read the terms carefully and ask FEMA or legal aid if you are unsure. A loan has to be repaid; a FEMA grant does not.

Kentucky help by need

For a broader look at preparing for and recovering from storms, see our guide to disasters and emergencies.

Related guides

• Disasters and emergencies
• Emergency housing assistance
• Emergency food stamps
• Charities that help with home repairs near me

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information. Disaster programs open and close with each declaration. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with FEMA, Kentucky Emergency Management, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, or any government agency.