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Biden visits Kentucky pledging federal support for tornado hit state
Offering hugs of support to locals who’ve lost everything to a devastating storm US President Joe Biden visits the devastation zone in Kentucky after the state was lashed with deadly tornadoes and severe storms
President Biden flew to Kentucky on Wednesday to survey the damage wrought over the weekend reprising a role comforting disaster victims as he pledged that the Federal Government will cover the costs of the rebuild.
The president announced that the white house would cover 100% of costs of emergency work for the first 30 days after the extreme weather event.
Late Monday, Biden approved disaster declarations for Tennessee and Illinois, and had previously approved a major disaster declaration for Kentucky.
On Wednesday, Biden amended the Kentucky disaster declaration to make additional assistance available, increasing federal funding.
The President said during his remarks in Dawson Springs that he previously “wasn’t sure” he had the authority to make the change to the disaster declaration, but added, “it turns out I do.”
Joining local leaders earlier at a storm briefing in Mayfield in Kentucky… the President expressed shock at some of the images he saw during his aerial tour of the area pledging the full force of the federal government to help rebuilding and recovery efforts.
Biden said he was “amazed” at the way the community has come together in the wake of the storm
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has sent search-and-rescue and emergency response teams to Kentucky, along with teams to help survivors register for assistance.
Dozens of generators have been into the state following mass power outages along with 135,000 gallons of water, 74,000 meals and thousands of cots, blankets, infant toddler kits and pandemic shelter kits.
Mayfield was the hardest hit of several western Kentucky communities in the 200-mile path of a twister that turned cities into piles of debris that are now being hauled away by work crews and National Guard troops.
The city of 10,000 is under a boil-water order and accounts for more than one-third of the state’s 14,000 power outages.
