Photo Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images / Getty Images
As parts of western Kentucky were devastated by tornadoes and storms in December, many businesses, elected officials, and individuals across our state are looking for ways to help. The Kentucky Chamber has created this page to help provide resources to those impacted.
Kentucky’s business community has always stepped up in times of need and we will do everything we can to help. There will be much work to do in the upcoming weeks and months and we will continue to help in any way possible.
We are in communication and working closely with the Governor’s office and state and federal lawmakers to ensure the most coordinated effort.
The Chamber has created a Tornado Recovery Fact Sheet Kentucky Tornado Recovery Guide. Click the buttons below to download.
Donations
Donate to the Kentucky Sports Radio - Kentucky Chamber Foundation Tornado Relief Fund
Photo Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images / Getty Images
Donate Blood
- Kentucky Red Cross: Find your local blood bank here
- Kentucky Blood Center: Find a drive here
Gov. Beshear says you can donate to the Kentucky tornado relief fund at: http://teamwkyrelieffund.ky.gov. Individuals are also being encouraged to contribute what you can to the Kentucky Red Cross.
- Donate online here
- Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.
- To donate by phone via credit card or to ask questions about donating money to the Red Cross, please call 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669)
WFPL has also published a comprehensive list with additional avenues to help those impacted.
We have partnered with the U.S. Chamber to provide direct support from disaster recovery efforts. Businesses and chambers can call 1-888-My-Biz-Help (888-692-4943) for direct support from disaster recovery experts.
If you would like to volunteer to help those affected by the tornadoes in Kentucky, please dial 211. Any out of state offers please contact the American Red Cross.
Important Resources for Those Impacted
Additional Resource Pages
- Visit the governor's Tornado Resources page
- Visit the Mayfield Strong website
- Visit the Bowling Green Chamber's Tornado Recovery Resources page
- Visit the Murray Chamber's Western Kentucky Tornado Resources page
Resources from the Kentucky and U.S. Chamber
- Read the Kentucky Chamber's Tornado Recovery Fact Sheet
- Download the Kentucky Chamber's Tornado Recovery Toolkit.
- Read the U.S. Chamber Foundation Small Business Recovery Guide
- Download the U.S. Chamber Foundation Local Chamber Recovery Guide
Federal Disaster Aid
Find out what government-provided resources are available during the state of emergency, visit www.disasterassistance.gov.
For individual assistance, homeowners need to start a claim in person, online, by phone, or on the mobile app. FEMA has set up mobile registration centers where homeowners can file a claim in person with the assistance of a representative from the agency.
Website: www.fema.gov/disaster/4630
Spanish website: www.fema.gov/es/disaster/4630
Physical Addresses:
- Caldwell County: Butler Gymnasium | 600 W. Main St., Princeton, KY 42445
- Fulton County: Mobile Registration Intake Center #07 | 1702 Moscow Ave , Hickman , KY 42050
- Graves County: The old Walmart location | Mayfield Plaza, 1102 Paris Rd., Mayfield, KY 42066
- Hart County: Mobile Registration Intake Center #09 | 2184 South Dixie Highway, Munfordville, KY 42765
- Hopkins County: Dawson Springs Library | 103 W Ramsey St, Dawson Springs, KY 42408
- Marshall County: Joe Creason Community Center | 1600 Park Ave., Benton, KY 42025
- Muhlenberg County: Neal’s Chapel General Baptist Church | State Route 81, Sacramento, KY 42372
- Warren County: Former Sears at Greenwood Mall | 2565 Scottsville Rd., Bowling Green, KY 42104
HOURS: All centers are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily until further notice.
Phone: 800-621-3362, or through the FEMA mobile app
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Individuals who became unemployed or those who are self-employed and had work interrupted in sixteen Kentucky counties as a direct result of the severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding and tornadoes, are eligible to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits through the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance. Those counties include: Barren, Caldwell, Christian, Fulton, Graves, Hart, Hickman, Hopkins, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, Marion, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Taylor and Warren.
Locations for disaster unemployment insurance clinics.
- 262 Scottsville Road, which is the Greenwood Mall in the old Sears store, Bowling Green, KY 42101
- 56 Federal Street, Madisonville, KY
- 233 Ring Road, Elizabethtown, KY
- 3108 Fairview Drive, Owensboro, KY
- 1220 Eagles Way, Mayfield, KY
It is not necessary to attend an in-person session if you can do everything online. These sessions are to assist individuals in filling out the application or answer questions.
The deadline to apply for assistance is January 18, 2022.
Visit kcc.ky.gov for updated information on DUA.
Food Assistance (SNAP)
The Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) gives food assistance to low-income households with food loss or damage caused by a natural disaster.
Note the following temporary changes to SNAP benefits policies:
Current SNAP beneficiaries can call the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) at 855-306-8959 or visit their county's DCBS office to request replacements for food lost due to the storms or related power outages. Replacements can be requested until Jan. 8, 2022.
Some residents of Warren County, Hickman County, Mayfield, Dawson Springs, Auburn and Pembroke who received their December benefits prior to the storms will receive automatic replacements. SNAP households not covered by this automatic replacement will need to call DCBS to request a replacement.
Kentuckians residing in the following counties may make hot food purchases through Jan. 17, 2022: Adair, Allen, Barren, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Casey, Christian, Crittenden, Daviess, Edmonson, Fulton, Graves, Green, Hancock, Hardin, Hart, Hickman, Hopkins, Larue, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, McClean, McCracken, Metcalfe, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson, Taylor, Todd, Trigg, Warren and Webster. Under normal circumstances, hot foods cannot be bought using SNAP benefits. SNAP authorized retailers have been notified of the approval that allows for this exception. Retailers may need 24 to 36 hours to make changes that will allow the sale of hot foods.
Website: https://kynect.ky.gov/benefits/s/snap-program
Phone: 855-306-8959
Email: [email protected]
Physical Addresses:
Hours of operation: Monday – Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (local time). Offices are closed on state holidays (Dec. 23-24 and Dec. 30-31).
- Barren County: 746D East Main Street, Glasgow, 42141
- Boyle County: 1000 East Lexington Avenue, Suite 6, Danville, 40422
- Caldwell County: 300 MicBeth Drive, Princeton, 42445
- Calloway County: 3415 US Highway-641 North, Murray, 42071
- Christian County: 644 North Drive Brickyard Plaza, Hopkinsville, 42240
- Fulton County: 601 Stephen Beale Drive, Fulton, 42041
- Graves County: 317 South 7th Street, Mayfield, 42066 – temporary location
- Green County: 605 Columbia Highway, Greensburg, 42743
- Hart County: 50 Quality Street, Munfordville, 42765
- Hickman County: 343 Moss Avenue, Clinton, 42031
- Hopkins County: 1086 Thornberry Drive, Madisonville, 42431
- Logan County: 88 Robins Way, Russellville, 42276
- Lyon County: 620 West Dale Avenue, Eddyville, 42038
- Marion County: 634 West Main Street, Lebanon, 40033
- Marshall County: 89 North Main Street, Benton, 42025
- Muhlenberg County: 103 Industrial Drive, Greenville, 42345
- Ohio County: 947 West 7th Street, Beaver Dam, 42320
- Taylor County: Elmhurst Plaza, 1327 East Broadway, Suite A, Campbellsville, 42718
- Warren County: 356 Suwannee Trail Street, Bowling Green, 42103
Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance
The Small Business Administration has opened three recovery centers in Western Kentucky. Please see the details below:
Marshall County: Joe Creason Community Center
1600 Park Avenue, Benton, KY
Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Closed: Dec. 31 and Jan. 1
Closed: Sunday
Hopkins County: Hopkins County Regional Chamber of Commerce
15 E Center Street, Madisonville, KY 42431
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Closed: Friday Dec. 31
Closed: Saturday and Sunday
Warren County: Western Kentucky University Center for Research and Development
WKU Business Accelerator Center
2413 Nashville Rd, Bowling Green, KY 42101
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed: Dec. 31
Closed: Saturday and Sunday
Disaster Assistance Loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration
Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents in Kentucky following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration due to the severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and tornadoes on Dec. 10, 2021.
Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, elevation, retaining walls, and landscaping to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.
Interest rates are as low as 2.83 percent for businesses, 1.875 percent for nonprofit organizations and 1.438 percent for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/, and should apply under SBA declaration # 17286, not for the COVID-19 incident.
To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or download the FEMA mobile app. If online or mobile access is unavailable, applicants should call the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362.
Businesses and individuals may also obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or emailing [email protected]. Loan applications can also be downloaded at sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Feb.10, 2022. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Sept. 12, 2022.
Visit the Small Business Administration website to learn more about Disaster Loan Assistance Federal Disaster Loans for Businesses, Private Nonprofits, Homeowners, and Renters.
IRS Updates and Information
- For Kentucky tornado victims, the IRS has extended 2021 tax-filing deadline, other deadlines to May 16. Click here to learn more. In response, the Kentucky Department of Revenue has Adopted the Federal Tax Extension for Tornado Victims. Click here to learn more.
- IRS has announced tax relief for Kentucky victims of severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding and tornadoes. Click here to learn more.
Kentucky Bar Association Disaster Plan
The Kentucky Bar Association has activated our Disaster Response Plan pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 3.130(7.60). The Disaster Response Plan addresses, “the problems that occur when lawyers and non-lawyers, who are not subject to the disciplinary jurisdiction of the Kentucky Bar Association and the Kentucky Supreme Court, engage in the provision of legal services, legal advice, and outright solicitation of persons and their families affected by a Disaster.”
As part of the Kentucky Disaster Response plan, The Kentucky Mass Disaster Task Force is created. Members of the Task Force are Supreme Court of Kentucky Justice Christopher Shea Nickell of Paducah, Task Force Chair; Retired Circuit Judge and KBA Ethics Committee Chair Judge Paul Isaacs of Sadieville; KBA’s Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee Chair attorney Rodger Lofton of Paducah, retired Supreme Court of Kentucky Justice Bill Cunningham of Kuttawa; and KBA Vice President W. Fletcher Schrock of Paducah.
Kentucky Revised Statute 21A.300 makes it a Class A misdemeanor for an attorney or an attorney referral service to directly solicit a victim or a relative of a victim of a disaster for 30 days following a disaster.
The Kentucky Supreme Court’s Rules of Professional Conduct governing lawyer conduct make it a violation at any time for an attorney, or anyone on an attorney’s behalf, to initiate contact or to solicit professional employment, in person or by live telephone, from a prospective client who is not a family member or a client of the attorney. Additionally, SCR 3.130(4.5)(4) provides that “no communication shall be sent to those individuals and related targets of solicitation who have been involved in a disaster as defined in SCR 3.130(7.60) until 30 days have elapsed from the occurrence of the Disaster.”
If members of the public are not already aware, the public should know that “statutes of limitation” exist which apply to various causes of action within the Commonwealth of Kentucky and, in certain circumstances, to Federal causes of action. Further, any person or entity believing he or she has been damaged by the wrongful acts of another should seek legal advice to determine the applicable statute of limitations, and other rights.
Lawyers seeking to make direct written contact with family members should be aware of the Kentucky lawyer advertising rules which are Rules of Professional Conduct. Victims’ family members who have concerns about inappropriate lawyer conduct and wish to report any such conduct may contact the Task Force through the Kentucky Bar Association at 514 West Main Street, Frankfort, KY 40601-1812 or by calling KBA Executive Director John D. Meyers at (502) 564-3795 or by email at [email protected].