FEMA disaster recovery centers closing in central and eastern Kentucky

Central Kentucky residents who received property damage from the April 2nd storms have a deadline of six o’clock tonight to visit the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Lexington.

Today marks the end of the declaration period and that center will shut down. Emily Fay is the public information officer for Lexington Emergency Management. She said after today’s deadline passes, people in the area can still get help.

“FEMA has an app you can use, and there is a DRC locator in the app so it helps you find for your base. Any DRC location in Kentucky, you can use in person, it doesn't have to be the one in your backyard. There is also a helpline you can call for more information.”

The DRC opened on June 6, 2024, to provide FEMA disaster assistance to Fayette County renters and homeowners who were affected by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, landslides and mudslides that occurred on April 2, 2024.

Fay said there are still plenty of services people can receive.

“While it's open, you can come in and get help applying for grants for home repairs, no interest loans to cover property damage or losses, say a tree rips up, falls on your house you can also get help with that, or if a tree falls on your garage and the property inside is damaged they're also able to help with things like that.”

Fay says FEMA has an app people can use that includes a DRC locator in the app so it helps you find for your base. Once the Fayette County center closes, people can use any DRC location in Kentucky.

Anyone with questions can call the FEMA Helpline at (800) 621-3362 for general questions about disaster assistance.

More about disaster recovery centers can be found here.

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