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Franklin County officials outline FEMA, SBA and local recovery supports after April floods
Summary
FEMA set up a local Disaster Recovery Center and urged affected residents to register by June 25; the SBA opened low-interest disaster loans (physical-damage deadline June 23; economic-injury deadline Jan. 26); the fiscal court approved hiring ER Assist to help the county maximize FEMA reimbursement with expected cost-share rules (75% federal / 12% state / 13% county).
Frankfort — Franklin County officials and federal partners told residents on April 30 that recovery resources are available after the April floods and urged people to apply quickly.
Nicole Wilson, a FEMA public information officer on the ground in Franklin County, said a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is open at 827 Louisville Road in Frankfort to help homeowners and renters apply for assistance in person, to walk applicants through the form and to collect necessary documentation. She said people with insurance should file a claim first and bring the insurer's letter to FEMA because federal law prevents duplicate benefit for the same damage category. "If you had damage and were displaced, come see us," Wilson said, adding FEMA may help with hotel costs, short-term housing expenses and replacement of medical equipment.
Wilson also warned that individuals impacted by the April floods have 60 days to register with FEMA; the deadline for this disaster is June 25. She urged residents who cannot get to the DRC to apply online at disasterassistance.gov, by phone or through the FEMA mobile app, and reminded people to guard against post-disaster fraud and to verify FEMA workers by official badges.
Brian Beard, a Small Business Administration public-affairs specialist, outlined loan options available after the presidential disaster declaration. He said the physical-damage loan application deadline is June 23 and the economic-injury disaster loan (working-capital) deadline is Jan. 26. Beard said homeowners may be eligible for loans up to $500,000 (to repair primary residences), renters up to $100,000 for personal-property losses, and businesses up to $2 million for physical and economic-injury needs. He described terms such as no payments and no interest for the first year and encouraged immediate applications even if insurance settlements are pending.
To help the county manage complex FEMA and recovery requirements, Belinda (county staff) proposed contracting ER Assist to prepare and submit public-assistance claims, work orders and mitigation applications. The fiscal court authorized an agreement with ER Assist and the judge and ER Assist representatives explained the anticipated reimbursement structure: FEMA covers about 75% of eligible public assistance, the State about 12%, and the county a roughly 13% share.
ER Assist representative Erin McCauley, who has worked disaster recovery in areas of Kentucky hit by tornadoes and floods, told the court her firm's fees are typically fully reimbursable through FEMA public assistance and that ER Assist will hire subcontractors — such as structural engineers or architects — under the contract when specialized services are required. The court noted those reimbursements can take many months and that additional budget amendments are likely as recovery needs and reimbursements become clearer.
What happens next: Franklin County will continue damage assessments and insurance coordination; FEMA said residents should register and visit the local DRC or the FEMA website. SBA applications are available now, and the county will use ER Assist to help compile public-assistance claims and seek FEMA reimbursements for eligible recovery costs.
