Beshear calls out federal cuts, state emergency funding cap amid floods
- Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear visited a high school being used as an emergency shelter after widespread flooding in the state.
- Beshear expressed concern over potential cuts to FEMA and other federal agencies, emphasizing their crucial role in disaster response.
- The governor also criticized the state legislature's cap on emergency relief funding, suggesting it will likely need to be bypassed.
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Hours after floodwaters crested in Kentucky's capital, Gov. Andy Beshear walked through Franklin County High School, sharing words of encouragement to people displaced from the widespread flooding.
"Kentucky has been hit yet again, but we are strong, and what you see in a place like this is neighbors helping neighbors: living out that golden rule," Beshear said. "And because of that, we will dig out, we will muck out and we'll move forward."
The high school is one of many areas in Frankfort operating as an emergency shelter for people impacted by the floods as waters in the area hit their peak levels. On Sunday night, Frankfort Mayor Lane Wilkerson urged residents to evacuate in anticipation of the Kentucky River's crest on Monday.
It appeared to crest Monday morning at 48.3 feet, the second highest on record.
However, for many areas in Kentucky — including Louisville — the water is still rising. The commonwealth has been hit by widespread flooding from the week's batch of storms and heavy rainfall, with cities from Paducah to Carrollton impacted.
On Friday, President Donald Trump approved Beshear's request for an emergency disaster declaration.
"President Trump and Secretary (Kristi) Noem have been really good in their response to the natural disasters we've had in this term," Beshear said, referencing previous flooding in February. "They very quickly signed the documents. Their FEMA group in Eastern Kentucky is doing some of the best I've ever seen a FEMA group doing. In the last several years, they've really improved their processes, and you hear many fewer complaints and many more people being helped."
Still, Beshear said these improvements are why Trump should not "break or dissolve" FEMA and other federal agencies, raising concerns over emergency disasters on both the state and national levels in an interview with The Courier Journal while visiting the temporary shelter.
Beshear seeks out federal, local assistance for floods
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has had search and rescue teams out during the emergency phase, Beshear said.
"We already have our major disaster declaration from the president, but we'll be applying for individual and for public assistance," he said. "That's something that I expect we'll reach all the thresholds for, so my hope is that more help is on the way."
The current floods are an example of why federal agencies must not dissolve and why the state should not have capped Kentucky's emergency relief funding, Beshear said.
His comments come amid the Trump administration's federal government overhaul, which has included a slew of executive orders that significantly reduce the capacity of many federal agencies. Hundreds of employees have been fired from FEMA, and Trump previously suggested shutting down the agency. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has also received significant cuts.
"When you look at the National Weather Service, one of the reasons that we haven't lost more people is that they're there," Beshear said. "They're doing the forecast. They're helping our meteorologists and us in the state, they helped us be prepared."
Cuts to the National Weather Service, which is a part of the NOAA, "will cause people to lose their lives," Beshear said.
His funding woes extend locally — where he criticized the Kentucky General Assembly for implementing a funding cap for emergency disasters. In the biennial budget, the General Assembly restricted Beshear's spending, allowing him to allocate $50 million for emergency responses in the first year of the two-year budget and $50 million in the second year.
The legislature later approved Beshear accessing the second $50 million early — allowing him to spend $100 million total in the course of two years.
Beshear said the state will need to bypass that cap before the next budget "for certain."
"What it likely means is it will hit a point where a natural disaster will cause us to call a special session, just to be able to have the basics to respond, much less to provide extra help to people," he said.
Sen. Gex Williams, R-Verona, also visited the Franklin County High School shelter. He said he believes a special session could be possible, depending on the damage, but that more information is needed.
"So if we go over that (amount), (Beshear) calls in for a special session and we can allocate more," Williams said. "But I don't think that's imminent. Again, you're really not going to know all the damage until the water goes down."
Reach reporter Eleanor McCrary at EMcCrary@courier-journal.com or at @ellie_mccrary on X, formerly known as Twitter.