President Donald J. Trump today declared an emergency in the Commonwealth of Kentucky following severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and landslides that began on February 14, 2025.
The declaration authorizes federal assistance to support Commonwealth and local response efforts across all 120 counties of Kentucky.
The announcement comes amid grim news that at least nine people have died in the most recent round of harsh weather across the United States, including eight in Kentucky.
According to state officials, the fatalities occurred as creeks swelled from heavy rains and roads were inundated with water. Among those who lost their lives were a mother and her 7-year-old child, victims of cars becoming stranded in high water.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear addressed the crisis on Sunday, highlighting the dire conditions across the state.
“So folks, stay off the roads right now and stay alive,” he warned. Beshear noted that hundreds of people stranded by flooding have already been rescued, with a total of 1,000 rescues reported since the storms began on Saturday. Additionally, the severe weather has knocked out power to approximately 39,000 homes, and the governor cautioned that harsh winds in some areas could lead to further outages.
READ: Severe Storms And Incoming System May Cause Flight Delays Across Florida, US
Under the President’s directive, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will coordinate disaster relief operations aimed at alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency. FEMA’s involvement is authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, enabling the agency to deploy equipment and resources to save lives, protect property, and safeguard public health and safety. Emergency protective measures will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.
FEMA has appointed Mr. Jeremy Slinker to lead federal recovery operations in the affected areas, ensuring a coordinated response across the state. Slinker will work closely with local and state officials to identify and mobilize the necessary resources to address the immediate impacts of the severe weather and prevent further catastrophic damage.
Beyond Kentucky, much of the U.S. is experiencing additional bouts of severe winter weather. The Northern Plains are contending with life-threatening cold, while snowstorms continue to batter parts of the Midwest and Northeast.
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