FRANKFORT, Ky. — The state of Louisiana is coming to the aid of those in need in Kentucky.
Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) and Gov. John Bel Edwards (D-LA) announced an agreement where Louisiana will donate up to 300 travel trailers to help survivors of the eastern Kentucky floods. The trailers were originally meant to help survivors of Hurricane Ida, which damaged portions of Louisiana in Aug. 2021.
The first trailers from the pelican state will go to Letcher and Floyd counties. They will move the other trailers in phases to other community areas out of flood zones, but that are near flood-damaged areas.
The trailers are part of the Commonwealth Sheltering Program, and flood survivors can register for a trailer by visiting this website.
“In response to these devastating floods, we have seen amazing helpers—Kentuckians helping one another and our fellow Americans from all over the country donating to help our families. Now we are seeing Gov. Edwards and the state of Louisiana helping our people with critical shelter,” Gov. Beshear said in a statement. “Unfortunately, folks in Louisiana know the pain and devastation of natural disasters all too well. But despite all they’ve been through themselves, this state is still choosing to pay it forward. Now more families in Kentucky will have quicker access to intermediate housing.”
“We understand the importance of helping people in the aftermath of a natural disaster, including helping them find shelter as they begin the process of rebuilding their lives,” Gov. Edwards added. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Kentucky to help its residents in Eastern Kentucky by providing interim shelter as they recover and rebuild from the devastating floods that swept through their region in July.”
Louisiana originally bought the trailers, however, the state is seeking reimbursement from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The trailers were given to Kentucky for free, but the governor says it will use money from the recently passed Eastern Kentucky State Aid Funding for Emergencies (EKSAFE) relief package to pay for the transport of the trailers and to get them ready for eastern Kentucky families.
Besides the trailers from Louisiana, the Commonwealth Sheltering Program has moved 119 travel trailers originally used to help western Kentucky communities after the Dec. 2021 tornadoes to help survivors in eastern Kentucky. Almost 350 flooding survivors are also being housed at the Kentucky State Parks in the area.
Thirty-nine Kentuckians died, and thousands of families were left homeless after the flooding wiped out nearly everything. If you want to help with the recovery efforts, you can donate to Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund.